Hey guys, I know this is a weird question. But right now I have a strange problem occurring that I would like to know more about. If you're wondering why I dont ask someone near me...well...

I'm currently on Thanksgiving break and I cant go home so I'm living the week off in my college dorm. Suffice it to say it is a GHOST TOWN here lol. I feel like I'm in I am Legend

Anyways on to the problem:

I bought a gold ring recently and after a few days of wearing it. My skin is starting to become discolored around where I'm wearing it. Is this natural? Anyway I can stop the ring from doing that? (The discoloration is blue is). I know it's not me loosing circulation because the ring fits very loosely on my finger. The discoloration is only where the ring makes contact with the skin.

Thanks for any help and advice

I think it proves that it isn't a gold ring, but a brass ring with a very thin (at most) plating of gold.

The brass reacts with the fluids and minerals on your skin, and produces the blue colouration. Not much you can do, other than buy better jewellery.

Tristan is right I had the same with a ring i had years ago.

Quote from tristancliffe :

I think it proves that it isn't a gold ring, but a brass ring with a very thin (at most) plating of gold.

The brass reacts with the fluids and minerals on your skin, and produces the blue colouration. Not much you can do, other than buy better jewellery.

well ok, then it isnt gold. But should I be worried about this? Is there any effects short term or long term? (besides the discoloration)

just the fact that people know you're cheap

Ok thanks a lot for the responses guys

If it should be green rust then it's toxic. Any material containing Copper causes this when it comes in contact with acids and/or sulfur.
Why don't you just clear paint the inside of the ring?

greetz

der butz

I agree - paint the inside with clear nail varnish and it'll make a barrier which should stop it.

Quote from lizardfolk :

Is there any effects short term or long term? (besides the discoloration)

Can`t be Argyria, since it isn`t silver..

You could have a metal allergy, many people get that blue reaction (even green/purple), especially from rings made from cheap metals like copper&tin.

Or, most likely, washing your hands with it on, there was a chemical reaction with the water, and your finger happened to be nearby.

Above advice seems sound to me, about painting the inside.

http://jewelry.about.com/od/je ... tals/a/skin_reactions.htm
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Copper%28II%29_sulfate - not sure if it is copper sulphate, but the blue suggests it is a form of copper compound.

Copper sulphate isn't particularly good for you in quantity, but the amount caused by wearing the ring is unlikely to cause any health problems. It's more than likely that the skin staining is the less appealing aspect, in which case you could either paint the inside (as suggested, with clear nail varnish), or perhaps get the ring re-gold plated.