Baking soda + alluminium foil cleaning went wrong

[IcedColdTears]

Hello, I hope you guys can help me!

I was using the baking soda + alluminium foil + salt method to clean my silver ring and a piece of the ring fell off!! What happened?

I think it's the joint that fell off, since it's in the bottom middle. Please help me! This ring is very precious to me!

Also, I used this method countless times before, but this time, the baking soda made a weird snow substance that never happened before with my other rings.

The ring's stone is Larimar could that be the cause?

I thank you so much for everyone that can help!

[JLDoggett]

I would take it to a reputable jeweller who could determine the problem and suggest suitable solutions.

[paulh]

The method of cleaning silver using soda and aluminium is actually a mild form of electro-stripping. Excessive use of this method will actually remove all the silver plating from a plated piece and cause and “orange peel” appearance on sterling silver and other silver alloys as the components of the alloy are removed at different rates. This method should only employed with great care.