Turn Your Fingers Green

All metals react to different elements. And some of them tarnish when they touch lotions, sweat, or sometimes even your skin. As the jewelry tarnishes, that coloring can rub off. Just like your fingers would look dirty if you rubbed an old penny between them for a while, the color is only tarnished that sticks to your hand. The color that it leaves depends on the type of metal. Most metals have a dark tarnish that can leave dark gray or even black marks. But copper has a green tarnish—think of the Statue of Liberty—and leaves a green mark instead.