Copper Care Guide

Mary has been hammering copper by hand since 1974, and John has been cutting the sheet for her just as long. In all those years we've learned that pure copper asks very little of you. Here is everything we know about keeping it looking the way you like it.

Why copper changes color

Real copper is a living metal. It reacts with the air, with moisture, and with the warmth, sweat and natural oils of your skin. Over weeks and months, that slowly turns the bright rosy surface a deeper, darker brown. This soft darker layer is called a patina.

A patina is not damage, and it is not a flaw. It is simply what pure copper does, and it's among the surest signs that you're wearing the real thing. Because no two people wear their copper the same way, no two pieces age quite alike.

Some of our customers adore the deep, aged look and never clean their pieces at all. Others like their copper shiny. Both are perfectly fine, and you can change your mind whenever you like, because a quick clean brings the shine right back.

Cleaning: three easy ways from your kitchen

You don't need any special polish. Everything below is probably in your kitchen already. Whichever way you choose, finish the same way: rinse the piece well and dry it straight away with a soft towel. Copper left damp darkens again quickly.

1. Lemon and salt, for a quick shine

This is our fastest fix. The acid in the lemon lifts tarnish almost on contact.

1. Slice a lemon in two and press the cut side into a little salt.
2. Rub it over the copper for 30 to 60 seconds.
3. Rinse under warm water, then dry it at once.

2. White vinegar and salt, for heavier tarnish

When a piece has gone quite dark, let it soak. The vinegar does the work, so there's no scrubbing.

1. Stir about a teaspoon of salt into a small bowl of white vinegar.
2. Leave the copper in it for 15 to 30 minutes.
3. Rinse it well, then dry it at once.

3. Baking soda and lemon, the gentlest way

We use this one on pieces with hammer marks, engraving or fine detail.

1. Mix baking soda and lemon juice into a soft paste.
2. Spread it on with a soft cloth or an old toothbrush, easing it gently into the grooves.
3. Rinse every bit away, then dry it at once.

The easiest method of all: keep wearing it

The natural oils in your skin buff the copper a little every day it's on you. A piece tucked away in a drawer will usually tarnish faster than one you wear daily. So the more you wear it, the less cleaning it needs.

Things copper doesn't like

Please slip your piece off before it meets any of these:

• Swimming pools and chlorine
• Seawater and other saltwater
• Bleach
• Strong or harsh soaps
• Household chemical cleaners
• Ultrasonic jewelry cleaners
• Perfume
• Toothpaste

Our simple rule: take it off before you go for a swim or put anything on your skin, such as lotion or perfume. Once you're finished, put it right back on.

A green mark on your skin?

Now and then, copper leaves a faint green tint on the skin. Please don't worry. It's harmless, and it's simply the copper reacting with sweat and your skin's own chemistry.

It's actually a sign your copper is genuine. A copper-plated piece stops marking once its thin coating has worn through, since by then no copper remains to touch your skin. When you see a little green, it means real copper is still there against your skin, doing exactly what copper does.

A little soap and water washes it away. Within a few weeks, it rarely shows at all.

Storing your copper

Damp air dulls a bright finish faster than anything else, so where your copper rests matters. When it's not on you:

• Tuck it back into the cloth pouch it came in, and keep that pouch dry.
• To slow tarnish even more, seal it in an airtight bag.
• Keep it out of the bathroom and any other steamy or humid spot.
• Don't leave it sitting in strong sunlight for long stretches.
• Store it apart from your other metal jewelry so nothing scratches it.

From our bench to yours

Everything from our bench is copper at 99.9% purity with nothing added, so this advice works for everything in our shop. If you have a question about your own piece, please write to us. We're always glad to help. And if a piece doesn't suit you, our refund policy gives you 30 days from delivery to ask for a return.