I have decided antique metal should not be cleaned. "Patina" adds beauty. | |||||
Re: Ancient gold -- will | Post Reply | Edit | Forum | Where am I? |
In antique pieces with less than 24K, over a long period of time, some pure gold rises to the surface -creating what appears to be a thin film.
After the raised areas have been handled or polished, the uncleaned, recessed areas appear to be a richer shade of orange. I am not a metallurgist; I do not really understand this process. Is it a chemical change?