Caring for your copper jewelry

Copper jewelry is all the rage now and  I create lots of copper as well as copper & sterling pieces.  As the price of sterling has been rising, metalsmiths have been looking for alternative metals and copper definitely fits the bill – it texture nicely, takes a great patina, is a warm colored metal, and looks great on a number of skin complexions.

The questions that I get asked the most at shows is “Will it Tarnish?” and  “How do I care for my copper jewelry?”.  The answer to the first question is yes!  Copper oxidizes quickly and there is really no way to stop the process.  Some people enjoy the lovely patina that copper develops over time but others prefer the shiny pinky glow of polished copper.

So – How to care for copper jewelry.  Caring for copper is really quite simple

• Remove your copper jewelry before swimming/hot tubs, showering, applying lotions, sitting in the sauna, washing hands, or sleeping.  All of these activities can in one way or another damage your jewelry
• Store your copper jewelry in airtight plastic bag is a cool place. I would also suggest using a silica pack in the bag  (those little packs that they include in almost everything that is shipped to you – it removes moisture).
• Wash your copper jewelry in warm water and a little Dawn detergent.  Do this when ever your jewery starts to look dingy.  The Dawn is an anti-greaser and will remove any body oils that have gotten on your jewelry.  Dry completely with a soft cloth before wearing or storing.  This will not polish your jewelry or remove the patina and is therefore a good first step.

If you want more of a polish, there are a few products that I would recommend for polishing.  Do not polish your copper jewlry if you purchased it already patina-ed as this will remove the patina.

• Use a Sunshine Cloth or a Connossiers Jewelry Wipe to clean and polish –  wipe your dry piece until the tarnish is removed.  The cloth (which is treated with chemicals)  will turn black as the tanished is being removed.  Safe for pieces with stones.
• Create a mixture of lemon juice and salt is a jar.  Place your piece is the jar and give the jar a few shakes.  Remove the piece and rinse thouroughly, then dry completely with a soft cloth.  Not recommended for pieces with stones.
• Make a paste of barkeepers friend and water and appy this to the copper and rub with a soft sponge or cloth until the tarnish is removed.  Rinse throughly and dry completely.  Not recommended for pieces with stones
• Do not use commercial copper cleaners as this may scratch your piece and ruin any stones that are on your piece.  I would also not use ultrasonic jewlery cleaning machines.

Enjoy your copper jewelry

Why Serendipity?

Serendipity or  “happy accident” seems to sum up my life so I decided to call this blog –  Serendipidty.  Throughout my life it always seems that I start out to do one thing and along the way something happens – a fork in the road – a happy accident.

I didn’t start out to me a jeweler.  In fact, I had two other careers prior to jewelry.  First I worked as an actress and then as a middle school teacher at a magnet school for the arts.  Each, in their time, was great.  I loved every minute of what I did.  Then I retired and “serendipidy” happened.   All of a sudden,  I was making handcrafted jewelry and selling it at art shows and online. Now, I am trying my hand at a blog.  But, what to blog about is the key question!

Jewelry, of course.  The serendipity of jewelry – the stories behind handcrafted jewelry.  Each piece has at least one story and that is the artist’s.  It may also have others – the buyers, the recipient’s, etc.  My jewelry is handmade – hand forged and fabricated – many pieces are hand finished – some are finished with minimal machinary. Each piece has my heart and soul in it and is influenced by my world which is my inspiration – I dream each piece before the design is clarified on paper.  Even then, the serendipidous can and does happen!

To my reader, I hope this is a blog that you like and is both entertaining and informative.   Have a topic, you would like to hear more about?  Let me know.  See a piece you like and want to more about, let me know.  Visit my websites: like my facebook page; come see me at a show.  I want this to be about more than just my jewelry – about other artists that inspire me.  It’a going to be a journey and this was its first step.  I hope you will journey with me.