Silver Oxidation With Eggs

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In this video, Professor John Ahr of the Online Jewelry Academy conducts an experiment to determine the best way to apply a patina to silver using an egg. This is a follow up to an earlier video.
Previously, Prof. Ahr showed viewers that instead of using liver of sulfur, one can patina a silver item using a hard boiled egg yolk and a resealable plastic bag. An OJA subscriber commented that it was more effective to use the egg whites. So, the OJA decided to conduct a little experiment.
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[@avalon5957]

Thanks a lot for this tutorial. I just bought some silver earrings, but I don't really like the super shiny look of polished silver on me, as I'm more of a copper, bronze, brass kind of guy, so giving them a quick patina with this method, made them much more to my liking :D Also went ahead and gave my grandmother's antique ring, that I have in a necklace a go, since I once polished it a bit too much, and removed a lot of the nice patina it had. So now they all look blackened with a colourful shine of purples and blues and golden hues. Thanks!

[@jonjensen4514]

I’ve been in school the past year and a half to learn to make jewelry and this is why I love it. There’s craftsmanship, cool tools, a timeless market, and even chemistry is all involved in one trade.

[@OnlineJewelryAcademy]

Never underestimate the intelligence of a jeweler. Right?! It's great that you love what you do. 😀

[@morrows10]

I am thrilled with your experiment. You used a control! Many scientific experiments forget that. And you have taught me something new: who knew how much sulpher was in the white of the egg?! Very cool video-thank you!

[@OnlineJewelryAcademy]

Glad you enjoyed the video. 😀

[@PraytheRosaryEveryDay]

Yes, but I prefer the look of the silver done with the yolk. The patina actually looks like a beautiful lustrous, vintage patina, while the one done with the white appears simply heavily tarnished and flatter. I guess it all depends on what type of tarnish you are looking for. :) Many thanks for the demonstration!

[@OnlineJewelryAcademy]

Hi Stephen, The patina that was achieved in the allotted time period using egg yolks is just a lighter tarnish than the one achieved with the whites. There's more sulphur in the whites. So, you can simply leave your silver pieces in the fumigation chamber until you see the result you desire. Have fun. Thanks for your support! : )

[@jadedmonk7001]

Stephen Dennis Thanks for that invaluable tip! Stay well during these bizarre and unprecedented times too

[@kulineranhore]

​@@OnlineJewelryAcademy hey, I have question. So I tried your method at home with white egg, and it worked at first. But then I wash my ring with soap, and some black patina gone. Now it's looks aging with black spot. Do you think I missed something? I didn't scale the weight tho.. Just 1 egg yolk for 1 small ring.

[@OnlineJewelryAcademy]

Glad you enjoyed the video. Thanks for watching. 😀

[@uniongred4877]

This really works! Tried it with egg whites, for 45 minutes. If you've a silver ring with a colourless stone, the tarnish really makes the gem stand out where otherwise it tends to be masked by the metal's shine. Thank you for the tip!

[@GOxHAM]

Excellent video. Extremely helpful, many thanks!

[@OnlineJewelryAcademy]

Glad you enjoyed the video. Thanks for watching! 😀

[@wanderingcalamity360]

This is incredibly helpful. Thanks for this!

[@OnlineJewelryAcademy]

I’m so glad that you enjoyed the video. Thanks for watching!😀

[@wildysnow547]

I usually have bacon with mine it works as well.

[@OnlineJewelryAcademy]

Toast is good too. ; ) Glad you liked the video. Thanks for your support! : )

[@carolinetolstad5213]

You are so lovely! Thank you!!

[@simvag]

Thank you for such informative video, I also really appreciate you helping everyone in the comments! I tried this method and it worked pretty well! I noticed that the smooth surfaces were clearly darker than textured ones. I used the same cleaning solution to clean the parts I wanted to stay bright. Overall, it's a really accesible way to bring back some contrast to the silver jewelry that was cleaned with the cleaning solution, anyone can try it at home and it works for sure!

[@OnlineJewelryAcademy]

Thank you for your kind and informative post. I'm glad that you found the video helpful and had success with your project. 😀

[@okayokay2010]

you are professional man. Thank you very much

[@OnlineJewelryAcademy]

Glad you liked the video. Thanks for watching! 😀

[@lisajarvis3820]

WOW 😎💝 Thank You ~ and the fact that you don’t need much to do this which is sooooooooo 😎!!

[@guytiips3906]

Wow I never know before. save my money. THANK YOU TEACHER

[@OnlineJewelryAcademy]

Glad you enjoyed the video. Thanks for watching! 😀

[@asfzkt1969]

thanks a lot you saved my life with this tip because here where i live all kinds of strong acides are forbidden i even tryed to color my silver or copper with alcohool ink but the result was so nusty thank you very much again i can't wait for your next tuto

[@OnlineJewelryAcademy]

Glad you liked the video. I feel like it was meant for you. ; ) Thanks for your support! : )

[@juliamilton4377]

Thanks for following a viewer's suggestion and adding the egg-white process -- I had wondered about that, too! Nice to know that it works well. (Not least because there's a lot more egg white than egg yolk in your average egg ;)

[@OnlineJewelryAcademy]

Glad you liked the video. We learn more if we work together as a community of jewelers. Thanks for watching! 😀

[@alontzchori8744]

came to learn how to do it, stayed cuz it is cool and presented in a very intresting way

[@OnlineJewelryAcademy]

Glad you enjoyed the video. Thanks for watching! 😀

[@lulu43751]

I use this method often and use the hole egg together in a container works a charm

[@OnlineJewelryAcademy]

Cool. There really isn't any good reason to make extra work cutting apart the egg ; ) Glad you liked the video. Thanks for your support! : )

[@lulu43751]

Actually I do chop it up but use the entire egg 😉

[@texanforeverthompson3645]

Great video! Always suspcted egg yolk would work, but am surprised that egg white works even better. Thanks a heap.

[@OnlineJewelryAcademy]

You're welcome! 😀

[@DreamwalkerFilms]

Great video!

[@OnlineJewelryAcademy]

Glad you enjoyed the video. Thanks for watching! 😀

[@venust.4119]

Great cooking video. I'll try that next Thanksgiving. So when did you say I add coriander?

[@janicedare8832]

I have learned so much from your videos. Thank you so much. This works only on silver? I like using safer rather than chemical methods.

[@OnlineJewelryAcademy]

Hi Janice, I'm so glad that you are enjoying and learning from the OJA's videos. This technique will also work with copper. But, the result will only be a dark grey or black color. Thanks for your support! : )

[@joemariquilala7074]

THANKS SIR 👏

[@peterkingsman]

great video

[@OnlineJewelryAcademy]

Thank you. And, thanks for watching! 😀

[@backstageguitartech6161]

Thank You

[@OnlineJewelryAcademy]

Glad that you found the information helpful. Thanks for watching! 😀

[@vidamilani5347]

Thank you

[@OnlineJewelryAcademy]

You're welcome 😀

[@alochkaney2601]

So glad I found this video me idiot decide to clean my silver /garnet vintage brooch in jewelry cleaner 😢now look so awful 🙀 the only hope white eggs method Thank you so much for the video👍

[@OnlineJewelryAcademy]

Glad I could help. 😀

[@Elizabeth-kq5wi]

Good to know. Tkanks!

[@OnlineJewelryAcademy]

Glad you liked the video. Thanks for your support! : )

[@Asif11896]

very nice thanks

[@OnlineJewelryAcademy]

Glad you liked the video. Thanks for your support! : )

[@theIdlecrane]

Pretty cool

[@OnlineJewelryAcademy]

Glad you liked the video. Thanks for watching! 😀

[@mariamm8687]

Such a neat tutorial / experiment! Is it safe to eat the eggs afterwards? Also would this damage gems like moonstone or tourmaline?

[@OnlineJewelryAcademy]

Glad you liked the video. Do not eat the eggs used to apply your patina. It is safe to expose gemstones to the egg whites. 😀

[@jacquelinejackson3672]

Had to look this up bacuse I did this on accident to my rings when I was peeling boiled eggs. Its never happened before so I can only guess thats its because my eggs are from my chickens, and not from the store this time.

[@xbandpixels]

This was a great method just tested some of my rings with white eggs they turn black almost within few mins.. but re heating the same egg doesn't give off the same reaction .. so i expect it should be a new egg for each piece of jewel

[@OnlineJewelryAcademy]

Thanks for posting your comment. And, thanks for watching! 😀

[@dabforge5731]

Watching this after having my piece bathing in raw egg for past hour 😅

[@OnlineJewelryAcademy]

Oh no! Well, at least you now know how to use eggs effectively. Thanks for watching! 😀

[@anonymousblah4486]

This was very helpful, exactly what I was looking for. Thank you for this informative video. I have a few questions: Will the tarnish colour be different if I use an entire boiled egg (shell+white+yolk)? Will the tarnish wear off over time with regular use of the jewellery on your skin? Is this method bad for your skin in anyway? (Probably a dumb question but I read somewhere about household tarnish effects having a negative effect on your skin) How many whole eggs would you recommend if I were to try this with a larger quantity of items (a few chains and rings for example)?

[@OnlineJewelryAcademy]

Hi Anonymous Blah, It really doesn't matter if you smash up an entire egg to darken your silver jewelry. As long as the egg whites are included, you should get a good result. Any patina will wear off over time if a piece of jewelry receives a lot of wear. But you don't need to worry about it being harmful to the skin. It wears off so slowly and in such small quantities that nothing bad should happen. And, it will probably only take a couple of eggs to get the job done. Thanks for your support! : )

[@anonymousblah4486]

Oh wow thank you so much for the response.!! Will this process even work on cheap jewellery (I'm not entirely sure what material they are made of)? And items like cheap shiny gold buttons?

[@OnlineJewelryAcademy]

My best suggestion is to experiment with the materials that you want to patina.

[@anonymousblah4486]

Thank you for your suggestion. :)

[@hezilabdelhak3613]

just tried it it worked thnx ,and how much is gonna last

[@OnlineJewelryAcademy]

The oxidation on a sterling silver piece is essentially permanent. It may rub off in places. Or, you might clean some areas with silver polish. But, because of the nature of the metal, the oxidation will always redevelop over the entire surface of the piece if it is left in the open air. 😀

[@joshuabasbas4949]

Hi onlinejewelryacademy! Can the oxidized/tarnished silver be removed with metal polisher cream/agents? Thanks in advance. :) God Bless.

[@OnlineJewelryAcademy]

Hi Joshua, Yes, the oxidation from the egg fumigation process can be removed with silver polish. But, the easiest way to get rid of it is to lightly heat your piece with your torch and pickle it. Of course this would require you to republish your piece. But, it will thoroughly remove all of the oxidation. Thanks for your support! : )

[@jadedmonk7001]

Did you know: If the hardboiled eggs are fresh off the boil or still extremely warm, the process is lightning fast? ⚡

[@OnlineJewelryAcademy]

Cool! Thanks for sharing that. 😎

[@stephanieduttonk55]

how fast?

[@OnlineJewelryAcademy]

@@stephanieduttonk55 Of course it depends on the size of the object and how clean it is, but it should take less than a day for any silver object to oxidize.😀

[@marykatherine1003]

i just discovered that myself!

[@matthewyau9500]

Greatt video !!! However I would like to ask if this will also work if my jewelry have 18k gold in it, will it also work on gold to get that “gold” patina ? Thanks in advance

[@OnlineJewelryAcademy]

The technique used in the video will not work on high karat gold items. Gold doesn’t oxidize. 😀

[@TheJayzism]

Wonder how to create the "blue plated muffler" patina effect on silver ring? Does the yolk create a colorful tint like the colored exhaust pipe??

[@OnlineJewelryAcademy]

The color you see on the exhaust pipe is caused from the steel of the item reaching a particular temperature. There are chemical treatments that will produce a similar color on steel. Think of the blueing on guns. On silver it's difficult to maintain a blue color. You can achieve a blue color with Liver of Sulfur. But, it disappears when you coat the item. Or, it wears off quickly. Sorry. Thanks for your support! : )

[@nepiece4815]

Thanks man🙏 .. is that permanent!!

[@OnlineJewelryAcademy]

The patina can be removed with a torch. And the patina will wear off over time. 😀

[@MegaNatsirt]

im considering using this as one of my usual tests. File a surface and hole into whatever you want to test, test with eggs. is it black? then it must be silver

[@OnlineJewelryAcademy]

You might want to consider using an acid test instead. Testing kits are inexpensive and accurate. We don’t have a video on acid testing. But you can find many on other channels. 😀

[@thomasgandon1497]

Hello, I have a ring with a lot of leafs (elvish style) and details. How can I tarnish specific area to make them pop? without darkening the whole piece?

[@OnlineJewelryAcademy]

You can use a solution of Liver of Sulfur and a paintbrush. Check the OJA playlist on our website for other patina videos. 😀

[@earthlingsartist]

Could also patina the whole thing and then polish the parts back up

[@shelbyhunt4186]

Does anyone know if this would work on rhodium plated items? If this would not work, is there something else I could use to darken a rhodium piece that anyone knows of?

[@OnlineJewelryAcademy]

The process shown in the video will not create black rhodium. Here’s a link that should answer your questions: quickjewelryrepairs.com/articles/black-jewelry-should-you-get-black-rhodium-or-oxidation/ 😀

[@dadanifit]

At the end, it is not clear whether there is not a single tarnish stroke from the uncooked egg. Can you still sell a piece of tarnished silver to a PM dealer?

[@OnlineJewelryAcademy]

The uncooked egg has no effect on the silver. The video demonstrates a patination process. Many jewelry pieces are sold with this sort of “tarnish” on them. It helps to highlight details. 😀

[@aszthrotep4632]

Trying it now on a silver chain using the egg yellow, put it in a jar a bit above the egg parts. Should the egg be cold first or it wont mater? Air sealed jar with 2 egg yellows(boiled/diced).

[@OnlineJewelryAcademy]

The egg whites work better than the yolks. In the video I show the fumigation chambers filled with crumbled egg parts. I would recommend working with cold egg yolks in an airtight container. Thanks for your support! : )

[@aszthrotep4632]

@@OnlineJewelryAcademy Thanks for the hint, i let it be during the night(threw in some egg white parts just in case). In the morning i got very happy, it worked like a charm and i got just the right shade on the silver chain. Much appreciated!

[@OnlineJewelryAcademy]

Glad you ended up with a good result.

[@abasalqashami5070]

cool

[@OnlineJewelryAcademy]

Glad you enjoyed the video. Thanks for your support! : )

[@tia-8802]

Will this method work on other metals, like copper?

[@OnlineJewelryAcademy]

This process well work on copper and copper alloys. But the result will not be quite as dramatic. It really works best with silver. Be sure to check out the OJA's video on peanut oil patination. It gives copper a wide range of beautiful colors. Thanks for your support! : )

[@followme8238]

Will this be good for a ring, or will handling them ring and normal soap and water hand washing remove the patina?

[@OnlineJewelryAcademy]

Follow Me This patination process will work well on your ring. 🙂

[@followme8238]

OnlineJewelryAcademy thanks!

[@jonathanferrer3057]

If I do this to silverware, is the silverware safe to eat with?

[@OnlineJewelryAcademy]

Hey Jonathan, Folks have been eating Thanksgiving dinner off of tarnished silverware for hundreds of years. It's just tarnish. It's safe to eat with. I do recommend, however, that after giving it a patina, you wash and dry your flatware before using it. By the way, you're officially the first person who has asked me about putting tarnish on their silverware. Most people ask me if there are any tricks to cleaning it. And yes, there are. Stay tuned for that video. Thanks for your support! : )

[@c.s7978]

Will this work on copper and steel?

[@OnlineJewelryAcademy]

The sulfur in eggs will definitely oxidize copper. Steel however, won't produce great results with eggs. 😀

[@seemasarna1333]

Can I do this on artificial gold jewellery as well???

[@OnlineJewelryAcademy]

This process only works on silver.

[@ryanjones7681]

How can I tell if someone did this to make the ring seem older?

[@OnlineJewelryAcademy]

There's no real way to determine if the oxidation on a silver piece is one that has developed over time or was applied. 😀

[@geraldo1989]

Can you reverse it back to silver like new after toning it?

[@OnlineJewelryAcademy]

Yes. Just lightly anneal the silver object and pickle and brass brush it to bring it back to its original look. 😀

[@Trollet532]

How do you get a more iridecent colorful patina on silver plated objects?

[@OnlineJewelryAcademy]

You could use Liver of Sulfur to create a more colorful patina. Unfortunately, the colors will quickly turn to grey. And, applying lacquer to the colored surface will illuminate certain colors. If you’re after bright and stable colors, the material would need to be plated with Titanium. 😀

[@Trollet532]

@@OnlineJewelryAcademy the object i am trying to apply this to is larger. It's a silver plated trumpet.

[@OnlineJewelryAcademy]

@@Trollet532 I recommend that you contact an instrument manufacturer for assistance.

[@PhoebeAnastasia]

can I do this with 925 sterling silver? will it ruin it?

[@OnlineJewelryAcademy]

Hi Phoebe, All of the examples used in the video were made from sterling silver. The dark patina created by the egg parts is completely natural and is essentially tarnish. It can be removed with heat or with silver polish and a lot of elbow grease. Thanks for your support! : )

[@justaguy995]

Does this work on copper ?

[@OnlineJewelryAcademy]

Your best choice for oxidizing copper similarly would be to use Liver of Sulfur. 😀

[@Saliheartpies]

I have a piece with gold and pearl. Will it damage either? Is there a way to protect the pearl? If put tape over the pearl, will it protect it?

[@OnlineJewelryAcademy]

The gold on your piece will not be affected by this process. To protect your pearl coat it with petroleum jelly. You can wash it off when your finished. 😀

[@Saliheartpies]

@@OnlineJewelryAcademy Thank you so much!

[@theLunaMoth]

Will egg damage stones like turquoise or red coral?

[@OnlineJewelryAcademy]

theLunaMoth Turquoise and coral can be permanently stained if they are exposed to liver of sulfur. Fumigation with egg is a slightly different matter. But, to be safe, you could apply a layer of of wax or other removable material to protect your stones during the process. 🙂

[@theLunaMoth]

OnlineJewelryAcademy Thanks so much!! I really appreciate your response!

[@wendydelarosa1220]

professor, i have a silver ring with a little yellow gold line. will it affect the gold if i tarnish with egg?

[@OnlineJewelryAcademy]

Hi Wendy, No. The gold line will not be harmed by tarnishing the ring. Have fun experimenting with the egg whites. Thanks for your support! : )

[@challyho6375]

Perfect let's get some red sauce in there too

[@OnlineJewelryAcademy]

LOL! Thanks for your support! : )

[@helloray8406]

I have a doubt is the tarnished silver permanent or it will wash off?

[@OnlineJewelryAcademy]

The oxidation won’t wash off the item. But it can rub off with consistent wear. 😀

[@helloray8406]

@@OnlineJewelryAcademy I'm gonna constantly wear a silver chain and it's too white and shiny.. I want it to turn a bit dark not black fully just a bit dark.. Will this method be permanent or no?

[@OnlineJewelryAcademy]

@@helloray8406 The oxidation will be permanent. But, the outer surface will be more silver. I suggest that you experiment with the process. Btw, there isn’t a way to permanently darken a silver surface other than to paint it.

[@haloford]

Does this work with silver plated things?

[@OnlineJewelryAcademy]

Yes. You can oxidize plated objects. 😀

[@haloford]

@@OnlineJewelryAcademy noted. Thanks for the answer :)

[@maherrajeh8958]

Do you have to cool the egg before or does is still work if its hot ?

[@OnlineJewelryAcademy]

Interesting question. I've only ever done this with cool eggs. But, I don't think it really matters if the eggs are cold or hot. 😀

[@deeoneal1267]

hot eggs speed it up

[@hansvonschlader8227]

It's my experience that patina from egg wipes right off as it doesnt penetrate into the silver enough.

[@OnlineJewelryAcademy]

Well, at least it can help bring out some finer details. 😀

[@goodgremlinmedia2757]

Does this not work with store bought hard broiled eggs?

[@OnlineJewelryAcademy]

@@goodgremlinmedia2757 Great question! I’ve never tried using store bought hard boiled eggs. 🥚 But, I’m pretty sure that the process will still work with hard boiled eggs that you bought. Please post what your results are after you try it. Thanks for watching!😀

[@whisperingeaglelanders2339]

Is it permanent???

[@OnlineJewelryAcademy]

The oxidation isn't permanent. It can be removed by heating the item with your torch and pickling it. Thanks for your support! : )

[@sylvetteblaimont3305]

How can you "lock" this patina so it doesn't wear off from a ring? Thank you!

[@swiftlinesnyc8908]

Test missing two more models. Liquid white alone and liquid yolk alone...

[@OnlineJewelryAcademy]

OK. Thanks 😀

[@abhikarthi4128]

How to reverse the process ?

[@OnlineJewelryAcademy]

Abhi Karthi Use your torch to burn off the oxidation and refinish it. 😀

[@goldmancash]

Raw eggs won't spin!!!

[@OnlineJewelryAcademy]

Raw eggs also won't patinate silver jewelry either!!! Thanks for your support! : )

[@saintlaurentdon7147]

Does it work on with the swarovski stone ?

[@OnlineJewelryAcademy]

The patina will develop on pieces set with crystals or gemstones. But it will not change the appearance of the crystal or gem. 😀

[@saintlaurentdon7147]

@@OnlineJewelryAcademy okay thank you boss, and it works perfect on sterling silver too right?

[@OnlineJewelryAcademy]

@@saintlaurentdon7147 YES! 😀