Copper

Copper is one of the first metals people ever worked, and it is still a staple of the jewelry bench. Its warm reddish color, affordable price and ease of forging, soldering and enameling make it ideal for learning and for creating handmade pieces with character.

Properties #

• Color: bright orange-red when freshly polished; it darkens over time.
• Melting point: about 1085 °C (1985 °F)
• Hardness: soft and very malleable (around 3 on the Mohs scale)
• Density: 8.96 g/cm³.
• Reaction to air: it oxidizes into a brown patina and, with prolonged moisture, a greenish verdigris.

Uses in jewelry #

• Handmade jewelry: bangles, rings, pendants and twisted or hammered wire.
• Alloying metal: it gives rose gold its pink tone and hardens sterling silver (7.5% copper).
• Enamel base: vitreous enamel is fused onto copper sheet.
• Techniques such as chasing, patination, electroforming or mokume-gane (layers of different metals joined with heat and pressure).

Pros and cons #

Advantages #

• Inexpensive and easy to work.
• Adds a warm, distinctive color.
• Takes patinas, enamels and textures well.

Limitations #

• It oxidizes and can leave a greenish mark on the skin.
• It is soft: it scratches and bends easily.
• It needs upkeep to keep its shine.

Care and cleaning #

• Dry it after wearing and keep it away from water, perfume and creams.
• Wipe it with a soft cloth; a paste of lemon juice and salt or a metal polish removes tarnish, then rinse well.
• A thin coat of microcrystalline wax or clear lacquer protects the surface and slows oxidation.
• Store it somewhere dry, ideally in a sealed bag.

See also #

• Bronze
• Brass
• Gold
• Silver