SS TK honor ring

[Robert H]

is really a good ring in CG book?

[SScollector]

Surprisingly, there are a few, including that one. My vet acquired, uncleaned TK ring actually have some of that green stuff on it to.

Chris

[lartiste]

Surprisingly, there are a few, including that one. My vet acquired, uncleaned TK ring actually have some of that green stuff on it to.

Chris

Do you mean Kaiser ring? Are you willing to show the green color? Is it inside?





Jan

[SScollector]

Yes, and I will post a pic tomorrow. It is within the details on the outside.

Chris

[SScollector]

Here you go:

[N.C. Wyeth]

That looks to me like what Mallechort does when it is exposed to a corrosive atmosphere - especially when sulfur is present. Some people call it verdigris. Not saying that is what that ring is made of - but the high content of copper in Mallechort (60% copper/20% nickel/20% zinc) jewelry promotes a similar reaction and appearance. Some peoples body chemistry can expedite the reaction as well.

[lartiste]

That looks to me like what Mallechort does when it is exposed to a corrosive atmosphere - especially when sulfur is present. Some people call it verdigris. Not saying that is what that ring is made of - but the high content of copper in Mallechort (60% copper/20% nickel/20% zinc) jewelry promotes a similar reaction and appearance. Some peoples body chemistry can expedite the reaction as well.

I have noticed, that few late war rings, VET liberated, were covered with some material. I have seen photos of 1 or 2 even on WAF, but I do not remember the names. Would it be this? Or the ring was possibly stored with some copper stuff.

Still the colour is different (darker) than the wasabi on first ring ... .

[lartiste]

Here you go:

Thank you very much for showing the green stains.

[der-hase-fee]

Thank you very much for showing the green stains.

The Büchner engraved ring used to be John Pepera's. Since it came in the pictured grouping, chances are very high it's an original: Erwin Büchner, NSDAP #38247, SS #3283.

Green oxidation is an indication for high alloy silver, which would typically be 800 grade in Germany.

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A_Ring_Buchner.jpg

[Antonio Scapini]

The green you see on TK rings usually is a chemical reaction between the liver of sulphur components and the human sweat and other elements common in daylife.

[Gaspare]

so was the 'black' on the HR [1st and 2nd type] done with liver of sulfur?
, or do you think that the black was reapplied at a early date and worn off again?

[Antonio Scapini]

I'm not sure I understood your question my friend.

Yes, the liver of sulphur was used for blackening, and yes for both first and second pattern.
Then I don't know if on rings we handle it was reapplied or not... In those I was sure they were untouched yes.
But in the recesses areas there were so many elements it is totally useless to investigate on them. I found from selenium to silicon, from clorhine to arsenic, superficial analysys always reveals a huge amount of oxidation... The dirt on the recesses is impressive...

Below a chemical analysys of a deep area. Oxidation is higher that the rest of the surface (that is correct) and the presence of sulphur is around 5%, that indicates it was added to blackening the recesses.

[Gaspare]

arsenic


"The dirt on the recesses is impressive"...

Knowing where my hands end up occasionally I bet not something we'd want to know!

[Antonio Scapini]

arsenic


"The dirt on the recesses is impressive"...

Knowing where my hands end up occasionally I bet not something we'd want to know!

Ok, never ask me to analyze one of your rings please!

BTW: to have a complete understanding on their production process I think it is also important to know how the were blackened; and I've never found anything about the "lacquer" (the rings were covered of) Craig talked about in his book (even on mint rings). IMO he confused the natural yellowing/aging the silver can shows occasionally with something else. Furthermore lacquer on silver is a complicated field, some jewelry books exaplin very well that, usually not used on items because it wear off and breakes... The result would be catastrophic.
No evidences and a useless action IMO are enough to dismiss the use of a lacquer on TK rings.

[james m]

I use a product by Birchwood Casey called Aluminum Black to tone the repo ring I wear. It does a decent job and doesn't harm the ring.
Jim