Medical ID Bracelet Lettering Faded – How to Re-Blacken it and Seal it?

by Connie.

Medical ID Bracelet Lettering Faded - How to Re-Blacken it and Seal it? - Discussion on Jewelry Making Journal

I purchased an engraved metal medical ID bracelet. The lettering was in black but eventually the color wore off.

I have a new ID bracelet and I was wondering if you have any suggestions as how to prevent the lettering wearing off again.

Could I coat it with acrylic spray, or lacquer? I seldom take the bracelet off so it goes in the shower, dishwater, etc all the time.

I was hoping you could give me some advice as to what, if anything, there may be that will prevent this problem.

Thank you for your time and information.

Connie

FREE - Get 7 Super Jewelry Making Hacks

Get Rena's 7 Super Jewelry Making Hacks, plus the Jewelry Making Journal Newsletter - all for FREE.

We Respect Your Email Privacy

  • Rena Klingenberg says:
    at

    Hi Connie, you can darken your stamped/engraved lettering by using a superfine-tip black Sharpie marker, getting the ink into every crevice of the lettering. After you get every part of the lettering colored black with your Sharpie, you can easily wipe off the excess ink using a small piece of paper towel soaked in rubbing alcohol. The sharpie-darkening technique is actually quite durable.

    If you want to seal your bracelet, let the Sharpie ink dry completely. Then you might use a Krylon spray on the top side of the bracelet, not on the bottom where the bracelet contacts your skin. I hope this helps, and I hope to hear more ideas from everyone! 🙂

  • Rene says:
    at

    My go-to for darkening is a metal paint pen from a hardware store. Let dry, then top with a coat of paste wax on top. Buff to a shine and wah-lah!

  • Anita S Campbell says:
    at

    Would anyone recommend clear nail polish as a sealant on the top?

  • Rena Klingenberg says:
    at

    Hi Anita! I’ve never used nail polish as a sealant on metal jewelry, so I can’t say how well it would work. But if you want to seal a metal surface, look for a sealant that’s recommended for metal. Then do a test run on a small scrap or sample of your component. Then you can see how the technique will (or won’t) work on the sample, without ruining your actual piece. Another benefit of doing the test run on a scrap first – you’ll probably discover some things about the technique that will help you get better results when you do the technique on your actual component.

    Also, if you’re using Ranger alcohol inks or patina inks, the only thing you should use as a sealant is Ranger’s Gloss Multi-Medium. I hope this helps! 🙂

    • ←Previous post Next post→
    >