<p>A <a href="https://www.gemselect.com/other-info/scratching-the-surface-of-black-metal-jewelry.php" rel="noreferrer">reverse image search</a> suggests that the item of jewellery in that picture is plated in black gold; an alloy made of cobalt and gold. This might be <em>...difficult</em> to do at home. Let's look at some alternatives.</p>

<h3>Painting</h3>

<p>This is probably not what you're looking for, but good quality matt black spray paint, sprayed over a decent metal primer coat, will be reasonably durable and very simple at achieve</p>

<h3>Oxidating (Bluing)</h3>

<p>You can either apply a <a href="http://www.swdinc.com/blackoxidebasics.html" rel="noreferrer">coating</a> of an oxidating substance, or oxidate the metal itself - a process known as <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bluing_(steel)" rel="noreferrer">bluing</a>. This will give a relatively matt finish, but probably not as matt as you're looking for.</p>

<h3>Anodising</h3>

<p>If you go for aluminium instead of steel/brass, then you can try <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anodizing" rel="noreferrer">anodising</a> it. Anodising at home is tricky, and the cost of tools is probably more than it's worth if you only want to blacken one or two items, but <a href="http://www.bryanpryor.com/anodizing/" rel="noreferrer">it is possible</a>.</p>

<p><a href="http://astro.neutral.org/anodise_tips.shtml" rel="noreferrer">It seems to be possible</a> to get a matt finish when anodising at home</p>

<h3>Powder Coating</h3>

<p>Powder coating is very durable, and can be done in <a href="https://www.prismaticpowders.com/shop/powder-coating-colors" rel="noreferrer">many colours</a>, and is <a href="https://toemat.com/powder-coating/" rel="noreferrer">doable at home</a>. Like anodising, it requires some relatively specialised (and expensive) gear.</p>

<h3>Outsourcing</h3>

<p>This is the boring option, but if you <em>need</em> something doing well and don't know how to do it, or don't have the necessary equipment, it's often possible to pay someone else to do it for you.</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2018-05-21T15:25:31.243Z
Anodising implies aluminium though (and that would be very even for matte anodising, which isn't easy)
Chris H
CC BY-SA 4.0
2018-05-21T15:39:44.133Z
Interesting; [a reverse image search](https://www.gemselect.com/other-info/scratching-the-surface-of-black-metal-jewelry.php) suggests that the picture in question is actually black gold; I'll revise my answer.
walrus
CC BY-SA 4.0
2018-05-21T15:45:48.397Z
I was wondering about sulphur-treated silver plate, but gave up
Chris H
CC BY-SA 4.0
2018-05-21T15:47:33.827Z
Niello? I would assume that it wouldn't be durable enough. I'm rewriting my answer with a few suggestions.
walrus
CC BY-SA 4.0
2018-05-21T15:49:59.197Z
I'm no expert, thinking craft rather than jewellery, but more along the lines of treating with [liver of sulphur](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Liver_of_sulfur)
Chris H
CC BY-SA 4.0
2018-05-21T08:37:32.047Z
2018-05-21T16:16:23.710Z
2018-05-21T16:16:23.710Z
walrus
<p>Here are some examples :</p>

<p>High quality: PVD titanium Nitride or, more shiny, diamond-Like carbon or black rhodium deposit. These are shiny on shiny metals but not on matte (I.E. sandblasted) metal. </p>

<p>Low quality: black oxide, black galvanic chromium or black galvanic nickel (but don't use nickel for skin contact)...</p>

<p>Aluminium only: black anodizing.</p>

<p>This cannot be done at home, well... galvanic treatments and anodizing could but they have some security concerns. </p>

<p>If at home you can use a high quality shiny paint or black glazing for ceramics.</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2018-06-12T00:12:17.497Z
2018-06-17T13:59:48.700Z
2018-06-17T13:59:48.700Z
Xiiryo
<p><a href="https://i.sstatic.net/V7OAy.jpg" rel="noreferrer"><img src="https://i.sstatic.net/V7OAy.jpg" alt="enter image description here"></a></p>

<p>I've been researching different ways to blacken brass and steel such as with blackening agent, electroplating, etc. I don't know which one I should try to achieve a finish like ones given in the picture, I also want it to get a matte appearance without having to add matte varnish.</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2018-05-21T15:31:43.163Z
To get the matte finish you may need to pretreat.  Bead-blasting might be useful, for example, or caustic etching on some materials
Chris H
CC BY-SA 4.0
2018-05-23T05:13:41.097Z
No accurate answer can be provided without knowing the alloy used. The "blackening" method depends entirely on the metal. You can not blacken one metal the way you would another and some can not be blackened at all. First, figure out what material you are using.
herb guy
CC BY-SA 4.0
2018-05-23T14:21:31.553Z
In this case the asker has mentioned brass and steel, so it's a fair guess to assume that the exact material they want to use is somewhat flexible and depends at least in part on the practicality of their blackening it.
walrus
<metal>
What's the best way to blacken metal jewellery to this quality?
Nebby
# What's the best way to blacken metal jewellery to this quality?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2018-05-20)

[![enter image description here](https://i.sstatic.net/V7OAy.jpg)](https://i.sstatic.net/V7OAy.jpg)

I've been researching different ways to blacken brass and steel such as with blackening agent, electroplating, etc. I don't know which one I should try to achieve a finish like ones given in the picture, I also want it to get a matte appearance without having to add matte varnish.

**Tags:** metal

> **Comments:**
> **username_1**: To get the matte finish you may need to pretreat.  Bead-blasting might be useful, for example, or caustic etching on some materials  
> **username_2**: No accurate answer can be provided without knowing the alloy used. The "blackening" method depends entirely on the metal. You can not blacken one metal the way you would another and some can not be blackened at all. First, figure out what material you are using.  
> **username_3**: In this case the asker has mentioned brass and steel, so it's a fair guess to assume that the exact material they want to use is somewhat flexible and depends at least in part on the practicality of their blackening it.  

---

## 2 answers

### Answer by username_3 on 2018-05-21. Score: 5

A [reverse image search](https://www.gemselect.com/other-info/scratching-the-surface-of-black-metal-jewelry.php) suggests that the item of jewellery in that picture is plated in black gold; an alloy made of cobalt and gold. This might be *...difficult* to do at home. Let's look at some alternatives.

### Painting

This is probably not what you're looking for, but good quality matt black spray paint, sprayed over a decent metal primer coat, will be reasonably durable and very simple at achieve

### Oxidating (Bluing)

You can either apply a [coating](http://www.swdinc.com/blackoxidebasics.html) of an oxidating substance, or oxidate the metal itself - a process known as [bluing](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bluing_(steel)). This will give a relatively matt finish, but probably not as matt as you're looking for.

### Anodising

If you go for aluminium instead of steel/brass, then you can try [anodising](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anodizing) it. Anodising at home is tricky, and the cost of tools is probably more than it's worth if you only want to blacken one or two items, but [it is possible](http://www.bryanpryor.com/anodizing/).

[It seems to be possible](http://astro.neutral.org/anodise_tips.shtml) to get a matt finish when anodising at home

### Powder Coating

Powder coating is very durable, and can be done in [many colours](https://www.prismaticpowders.com/shop/powder-coating-colors), and is [doable at home](https://toemat.com/powder-coating/). Like anodising, it requires some relatively specialised (and expensive) gear.

### Outsourcing

This is the boring option, but if you *need* something doing well and don't know how to do it, or don't have the necessary equipment, it's often possible to pay someone else to do it for you.

> **Comments:**
> **username_1**: Anodising implies aluminium though (and that would be very even for matte anodising, which isn't easy)  
> **username_3**: Interesting; [a reverse image search](https://www.gemselect.com/other-info/scratching-the-surface-of-black-metal-jewelry.php) suggests that the picture in question is actually black gold; I'll revise my answer.  
> **username_1**: I was wondering about sulphur-treated silver plate, but gave up  
> **username_3**: Niello? I would assume that it wouldn't be durable enough. I'm rewriting my answer with a few suggestions.  
> **username_1**: I'm no expert, thinking craft rather than jewellery, but more along the lines of treating with [liver of sulphur](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Liver_of_sulfur)  

---

### Answer by username_4 on 2018-06-12. Score: 1

Here are some examples :

High quality: PVD titanium Nitride or, more shiny, diamond-Like carbon or black rhodium deposit. These are shiny on shiny metals but not on matte (I.E. sandblasted) metal.

Low quality: black oxide, black galvanic chromium or black galvanic nickel (but don't use nickel for skin contact)...

Aluminium only: black anodizing.

This cannot be done at home, well... galvanic treatments and anodizing could but they have some security concerns.

If at home you can use a high quality shiny paint or black glazing for ceramics.


---

