Why Is My Gold Ring Turning my Finger Black? (and What to Do About It)

You found the perfect ring. It fits like a dream, sparkles beautifully—and then, a few days in, you notice an unsightly green mark on your finger. If this has happened to you, you’re not alone. A really interesting question I get is:

"Why is my 14k gold ring turning my finger black?"

Let’s dive into what causes your gold ring to turn your finger black, how to prevent it, and why it doesn’t mean your jewelry is low quality.

First—What kind of Gold is my ring made of?

Pure gold is naturally soft, so it’s typically mixed with other metals to create a stronger, more durable alloy for everyday wear. The most common alloy for fine jewelry is 14K. Here is how 14K gold breaks down on a molecular level:

• 14k gold = 58.3% pure gold

• The remaining 41.7% is a mix of other periodic metals like copper, silver, nickel, or zinc

These added metals improve the durability of the gold piece of jewelry—but they’re also the reason why skin discoloration can sometimes happen. Below is a chart of the different gold options for jewelry.

Gold Karat	Percentage of Pure Gold	Percentage of Alloy Metals
24K (pure)	100%	0%
22K	91.6%	8.4%
18K	75%	25%
14K	58.5%	41.5%
10K	41.7%	58.3%

Why Skin Turns Green/Black

Your Skin's Unique Biology:

• Copper (commonly used in 14k gold) reacts with moisture and sweat on your skin. This creates a copper salt, which can leave a greenish tint on your skin. The mark isn’t harmful, it’s the result of a simple chemical reaction. Think of it like a penny that tarnishes over time—it’s a similar reaction happening on a micro-level.

• Women are likely to even see the black smudge occurrence fluctuate based on the time of the month and their hormone levels. This will also change based on diet, medications and many other factors throughout the course of time. They are the most likely cause of the reactions with the metal alloys in the ring, forming dark chemical compounds that you see as black or green smudges on your finger.

Skincare and Chemical Reactions:

• Harsh detergents, acidic skin exfoliants, makeup, lotions, pool chlorine, and many other chemicals will begin to corrode the alloys in your jewelry. Sometimes even to the point where the metal stars to break and stones fall out! This will cause those metal alloys to corrode and turn black, thus blackening the skin underneath.

Do I Have an Iron Deficiency?:

• There was a claim going around on social media that this green/black streak could be an early sign of anemia or iron deficiency. This is FALSE information. If in doubt, please go visit a doctor.

• Dr. Carmen Robinson - family medicine specialist at Novant Health has said: "...the gold ring test is neither good nor reliable. The best test for iron deficiency is a blood test and ferritin test. Those can determine if you are iron deficient or anemic."

Is It a Sign of “Fake” Gold?

No, not at all!

In fact, real 14k gold is more likely to cause this reaction than higher karats like 18k or 22k, simply because it contains more alloy metals and less pure gold. It’s a totally normal reaction and doesn’t mean your jewelry is poor quality or harmful.

How to Prevent Skin Discoloration

If you love your 14k gold ring but not the green tint it sometimes leaves behind, here are a few simple solutions:

1. Keep Skin Dry & Clean

• Always remove rings before washing hands, applying lotion, skincare, or swimming

• Sweat + skincare products = faster reaction

2. Choose a Higher Karat Gold or Platinum

• If you’re especially sensitive to metal alloys, 18k gold or platinum may be a better choice

• We’re always happy to guide you to the right metal based on your skin type and lifestyle

3. Clean Your Jewelry Regularly

• Build-up from lotions, soaps, and oils can increase the chances of discoloration

• Gently clean your ring with a soft cloth and mild soap every couple of weeks

4. Use a Clear Barrier

• A light coat of clear nail polish on ONLY the inside of the ring can create a protective barrier (just reapply every few weeks, careful not to allow the polish to touch any stones set in the ring).

My Personal Take on The Issue

Personally, I love 14K gold for its durability, warm glow, and everyday practicality—but everybody's body is unique. For myself, I've had the same three 14K solid gold rings that I made myself over ten years ago. Every few weeks I'll notice my skin turning green and black underneath them, especially if the weather is warm out. It's not very pretty, but rubs off with soap and water after I've removed my rings.

If you ever experience a reaction, I'm here to help you troubleshoot, offer metal alternatives, or even apply a custom protective coating in-house. Your jewelry should not only look beautiful—it should feel comfortable, too.

Questions? Concerns?

Feel free to contact me at bling@exodusgoldsmiths.com for metal advice, jewelry care tips, or custom solutions. I want you to love your jewelry piece in every way!

Have You Ever Experienced the Black Smudge Phenomenon?

• 0%Yes! I had no idea this was why that happened.
• 0%No. But I'm happy I have this information in case it does!