How can I remove deliberate 'distressing' treatment from silver jewellery?

[AdultHumanFemale]

How can I remove deliberate 'distressing' treatment from silver jewellery?
DP has bought me a perfectly lovely pair of earrings, very much in keeping with what I wear ordinarily, were it not for the fact that the silver has had some kind of distressing treatment applied, making the spaces and 'crevices' between the textured parts appear blackish (like some Pandora charms and goth jewellery). It is not regular tarnishing, and isn't coming off with rough brushing with detergent on an old toothbrush. I like my silver polished or brushed, so until I can get this unfortunate finish off I will feel a bit like an emo whenever I try to wear them.
Any ideas?

Have you tried a silver cleaning fluid?

toothbrush with silver cleaning fluid?

Depending on what's been used to blacken the crevices, it may not be easy/possible to do it at home. Where did he get them from - if a small independent jewellery maker maybe you could ask if they can remove it for you. Unless there are gemstones involved, and assuming sterling silver, then it's not a difficult process but it does take time and the earrings will need to be re-polished afterwards.

Sorry you don't like them!

I clean silver by making a paste from bicarb and water...

Sounds like it's been oxidised to give it a 'vintage' type look.

Try this video (I haven't watched it but hopefully will be easy enough!)

m.youtube.com/watch?v=fFoghjXzcag

Line a small bowl with foil shiny side up, half fill with boiling water, drop your jewellery in, add a couple of teaspoons of bicarb, stand back! Couple of minutes tops and it should be shiny and tarnish removed

Thanks everyone for the tips.
GrannyPenny , I am desperate to want to wear them; the design is a subtle abstraction of something which carries sentimental significance to both of us, the size and weight is great, it's just this weird blackening thing, without which they would be both stylish and contemporary. I have looked the maker up online, and it isn't typical for their other work either. They're local-ish, so I could contact them, but it feels a bit rude, as I get the feeling the earrings are definitely the manifested creative vision of this particular silversmith

The aluminium foil and bicarb will only remove oxides/tarnish that naturally occur on silver over time - it won't work on silver that has been deliberately blacked. Personally, I love the contrast but not everyone does. As an aside, there's debate within the jewellery community as to whether aluminium/bicarb causes microscopic damage to the surface of the silver resulting in more frequent tarnishing, so it's not something that I'd personally recommend.

If you love the earrings, I would definitely reach out to the maker to see what can be done - most of us prefer to have happy customers as these are the ones that go on to recommend to a friend/make future purchases. Good luck!

Thanks, GrannyPenny , I thought you sounded like you know your stuff! It is funny, as soon as you mentioned oxididisation the 'process nerd' in me sat up and took notice; I do textiles and appreciate a good artisan process so suddenly I'm seeing craftsmanship where last night I saw goth costume jewellery...

@GrannyPenny how do you remove tarnish without damage? (Sorry for changing the subject).

It’s usually created by immersing the piece in something like Liver of Sulphur, then polishing it. The oxidisation picks out all the small details. It’s an ancient technique that I do like.

Your oxidised jewellery sounds like the kind of work my friend, a silversmith, does.

I dabble, AdultHumanFemale

How do you remove tarnish without damage - a very soft baby's toothbrush with very soapy water first and once dried a rub with a silver cleaning cloth. Prevention is better than cure so I keep my silver as airtight and dry as possible when i'm not wearing it.

Very very occasionally where a cloth isn't going to get into the nooks and crannies, say on an intricate silver chain, I'll use silver dip as a last resort, very very quick dip in and out (literally couple of seconds) and straight into soapy water, and diligent clean with soapy toothbrush. Silver dip is not a nice chemical and best avoided if at all possible.

If the patina's been put in with liver of sulphur neither the aluminium/bicarb nor the silver dip will remove it. Rubbing with a silver cloth will remove some of the patina from the higher areas although it may not result in the look you're after!

Vinegar. Drop them in, leave them a few hours.