Copper
Copper is a beautiful metal - don’t let anyone tell you otherwise! It is soft and
malleable to work with, oxidises perfectly to a number of shades of beige through
to black, incorporating a delicious chocolatey brown on the way, and can then be
burnished and polished in places to show off the definition of a piece to its best
effect.
Some people are wary of copper because they say it turns their skin green or black.
The reason for this is not the copper, but the skin - if you have an acidic skin
or if your copper jewellery comes in contact with perspiration, then this is a natural
reaction of the copper. This reaction can also take place with silver. The problem
can however be easily overcome. Copper (and silver) jewellery can be sealed, either
with a microfine polish, or by the simple expedient of coating it with a sealant
such as shellac or nail polish on the areas where it will be in contact with your
skin.
Enjoy your copper jewellery - it has a lovely early 20th Century aura about it and
is one of the most versatile and satisfying metals.
