The following is Victor's response to my question about a necklace I recently purchased: "If you got the necklace from a large retailer and not from a street corner or from a friend, I'd say it's safe to assume that it's actually made of 10k gold as advertised. Try to find a stamp on the clasp. Both 10,000 and the numeral 417, when added together, equal 10,000. The figures indicate the percentage of gold used to make the metal suitable for use in jewelry."

What exactly is the major cause of the black smudges? If it's gold, then how come it stains everything you wear black? Although this was once considered a jewelry mystery, the answer is probably just cosmetics today. That would be the equivalent of women's cosmetics. The powdery foundation blends in seamlessly because of how finely it was powdered. Makeup contains incredibly small particles that can only be seen with a microscope. They wear down the precious metal just like sandpaper.

The sanding process is so delicate that the rubbed-off gold appears black, like a smudge, rather than its true gold color. Probably ninety percent of the time, this is the cause of the issue that women have with gold jewelry displaying fingerprints or dirt. I know, it doesn't make any sense, but it's real!

There could be other causes of the black spots. Is, there are several other possible causes if you don't use any cosmetics that could be rubbing off on the necklace. Scratches and smudges on these are difficult to pinpoint to a specific cause. Quite the mystery awaits solution if you have worn this particular piece of gold in this manner before without incident. Check to see if you've switched brands of cosmetics. Verify whether any medications have been altered. Inquire as to whether or not you are taking a dip in the hot tub or swimming with the new rose gold necklace.

The topic of cosmetics has been discussed previously. Because some medications can alter your body chemistry and the chemicals the necklace will come into touch with on your skin, they are described here. When the chemical reacts with the jewelry metal, it might leave smudges.

Chlorine in hot tubs and swimming pools is not only bad for jewelry but may also leave smudges on your clothing. Since the tarnish particles are so little that you may not be able to see them on the necklace, and since regular cleaning does not remove them from inside the necklace links, tarnish on the gold might cause smudges to transfer to your skin or clothing.

Smudging can also be brought on by exposure to salty air. Gold tarnishes when airborne pollutants combine with natural substances like sweat and skin oils. When a necklace is worn, the tarnish can be transferred to the wearer's clothes.

The effects of the black smudge have been described thus far. I have seen it happen with 10k, 14k, and 18k jewelry, and it's always a surprise to me how it happens. First, I would suggest giving what I've stated some thought and taking stock of any changes in appearance, medication, or environment since purchasing the necklace.

How often do you clean your other 10k necklaces? In that case, the issue must be with the new necklace. The exact composition of 10k gold for jewelry varies by manufacturer. However, occasionally an individual will experience smudging issues for no apparent reason, even though some will work for virtually everyone.

For the reasons I stated above, I have no choice but to accept the seller's word that the necklace is made of real gold. All gold jewelry, regardless of karat, is susceptible to smudges, however, the degree of smudging depends on the wearer and the surrounding environment. Unless you learn something from your own experience and my proposed explanations, there is no easy solution.

Since the necklace is stamped "10k," I assume it is a low karat gold, consisting of only 37.5% gold, which could explain the black hue. Is there black that shows up on your skin? It is common practice for stores to issue a refund or store credit upon receiving an unwanted item back from the customer.

Since the 10k has a dark hue, the alloys employed in the mix are likely unstable or poorly alloyed. The wisest course of action is to retrieve it. Attempt to raise that number to at least 14k. If the 14k exhibits the same behavior, the problem may lie with the makeup you're wearing or something else entirely. No matter which angle you choose, the alloy itself or your cosmetics must be at fault.

If so, you may want to see how silver performs for you. It could be the gold or the alloy itself that you don't like if you don't notice any black smudges on your clothes or skin.