Copper Care
Taking care of your Jewellery
Raw -
these pieces that have been left raw will naturally patina over time with the air and also with your skins ph level, due to it's metal abilities. You can help to keep clean with the use of a jewellers cloth or allow it to soak in a small dish of lemon juice for a few minutes and then a quick rinse under fresh water and dry/buff with a soft cloth. The additional use of salt in the lemon juice will help as a soft abrasive for getting into those stubborn areas. Raw pieces include: Bangles, Bracelets, Rings, Cuffs and Anklets. Some pendants with stones may be left raw as well.
Coated -
these copper jewellery pieces have been highly polished, cleaned and then coated in a Jeweller's Clear Lacquer. This coating will help to prolong the natural patina effects. Take care to remove your jewellery pieces and give them a wipe over with a soft cloth and to store away.
NOTE:
The clear lacquer coating longevity will depend upon - the ph level of skin (more acidic ph levels tend to remove it quickly), the wearing of sunscreen, moisturisers and makeup (foundations) can also strip it quicker than normal. Items can be submersed into the lemon juice bath to clean up (although never a high shine polish) except for Earrings or Pendants that may have a soft stone or leather inclusion.
Did you know....
It dates back thousands of years the wearing of precious metals.
Before adorning Copper as Jewellery, the Ancient Egyptians once used and made Copper into their serving bowls and drinking goblets.
Copper has been worn since then. Many adorning the 'Cuff' or 'Bracelet' as a remedy for pain in joints; hands, knees, fingers, lower back.
And YES...it can/may turn your skin green. This is dependant on your internal body health and any outer additional barriers you choose to wear, like sunscreen.
By personal experience, I tend to keep my copper reasonably clean and my inner health reasonable. If I have a rather indulgent night on the Red Wine, then it will show upon my skin the next morning with a slight green tinge. Or my partner buys takeaway for dinner and it has spicy seasonings. If I have a few laps in the local pool (depending on their chlorine levels) it can darken the colour of my bracelet and cuff which you see pictured above. These I never take off, so they tend to clean themselves back up while showering or I'll take the chance of when washing my hands throughout the day, I'll wash up over the jewellery as well. But easily soaked in the lemon juice if required.