How to Care for Genuine Copper Jewelry?

Copper has been utilized ever since ancient times for manufacturing jewelry due to the lovely hue it possesses as well as its malleability. Copper was already used to make jewelry as early as 7001 to 8000 BC; this excellent metal is still frequently employed in jewelry manufacturing.

Copper is a good framing material for semi-precious gemstones, another reason for the metal’s widespread use in the jewelry industry and its widespread popularity. Because of the juxtaposition between the colors of the jewels and the copper, the overall effect is gorgeous as well as charming and ancient.

Your genuine copper jewelry stands out against any background because of its brilliant and distinctive hue. However, maintaining your genuine copper beads’ brilliant splash of color may be exhausting without the proper methods.

There are many low-cost and easy methods for cleaning genuine copper jewelry that can be used instead of a visit to the jeweler. However, even though there are commercial cleaning solutions available, you might be surprised by how well specific standard household components work to restore tarnished jewelry.

Why Is Genuine Copper Used In Jewelry-Making?

Copper is frequently used as a jewelry metal of choice. Rings, charms and trinkets, bracelet chains, genuine copper beads, and possibly even more types of jewelry can be fashioned from genuine copper than any other metal.

The warm tone of genuine copper jewelry and anecdotal evidence that this metal helps reduce inflammation and pain make it a popular option even today. In addition, because of its toughness and distinctive reddish-brown hue, it is an excellent metal for use in jewelry.

Genuine copper is excellent for use in jewelry because metal can be easily shaped, and its distinctive reddish-orange color stands out. In addition, copper’s attractive earthy orange hue makes it a popular choice for jewelry.

In its pure state, copper is robust but not sufficiently so that it may be used in jewelry. To make it more durable, genuine copper is often alloyed with tin and zinc to create copper alloy variants.

Copper necklaces, bracelets, and rings are all quite fashionable for this precious metal. Copper looks fantastic with any pair of earrings, but it shines with brown, green, orange, or red precious gemstone earrings.

Genuine copper jewelry, in particular, needs more frequent cleaning to preserve its luster than jewelry made from other metals. However, copper jewelry is simple to maintain because it can be cleaned with only soap and lukewarm water.

What Makes A Copper Genuine?

Copper has been used for countless years by people worldwide to make jewelry and other valuable items—such as genuine copper beads. If you want to avoid buying a fake or discover more about the worth of the copper you already own, familiarizing yourself with the telltale characteristics of authentic copper is a great place to start.

•       Color: Genuine copper looks like a brand-new penny and has a reddish hue, sometimes described as orange or pink. Brass is much more vibrant and yellow than bronze, and both lack copper’s pink and red tones, although they are commonly mistaken for one another.
•       Magnetism: Precious metals made of iron, brass, or steel alloys that have been copper-plated will attract magnets. For example, a blackened iron object will attract a magnet, while a copper counterpart with the same finish would not.
•       Filling: Take a file to an unseen area of the item to see if it is made of solid copper or copper plating. The object is likely copper-plated if the filing exposes a different metal color underneath. All parts of a solid object will have the same color.
•       Density: The metal’s density can be measured as another scientific test. The density of genuine copper is 8.92 g/mL. This could be a challenge if you’re unfamiliar with the metal’s volume. If you know its weight and volume, you can calculate its density.

Does Genuine Copper Jewelry Tarnish?

Genuine copper loses its sheen and becomes tarnished over time. In addition, copper corrodes and develops a copper patina, a green film that covers the surface due to the metal’s environmental reactions.

Many jewelry stores provide copper items that have already been coated with a polymer coating, but a commercial copper sealer is available if yours hasn’t. In addition, you can use nail polish or auto wax, including lacquers, to keep copper from oxidizing and developing a patina.

Lacquer is widely used in the jewelry industry to protect copper against oxidation and general wear and tear. Nevertheless, applying lacquer can dull the jewelry’s luster and sheen.

Can You Wear Genuine Copper Jewelry Everyday?

Genuine copper is a favorite among people who appreciate jewelry due to its attractive reddish-brownish color. In addition, if you wear your copper necklaces, bracelets, and rings regularly, the natural abrasion against your skin will keep them polished and looking great.

The natural hue of copper is one of its most appealing qualities. Copper jewelry begins its life as a shiny earthy brown and eventually ages to a darker, more golden brown as it is worn. This transformation takes place over time.

Some of genuine copper’s benefits

•       Copper’s reputation as a calming influence on the body, mind, and soul makes it a wise choice for long-term jewelry. In addition, it can be cut, engraved, and stamped relatively quickly, making it a highly flexible material.
•       Copper’s skin-friendly properties make it an ideal antibacterial and antifungal metal. In addition, copper is a necessary mineral for the body, and copper jewelry items leave enzymes in the form of green stains on the skin, which are thought to have therapeutic effects.
•       Copper depletion can occur either when we fail to consume sufficient quantities of foods high in copper or when our bodies fail to take in copper from the food we eat for various reasons. For example, when a person wears jewelry made of copper, they allow their bodies to absorb trace amounts of the vital element potentially.

Why Should You Clean Your Genuine Copper Jewelry?

It is crucial to understand how to clean authentic copper jewelry to maintain its beauty and prevent the accumulation of stubborn filth, which may require the assistance of a professional cleaner.

Copper may not show dirt and grime as quickly as lighter metals, but it nevertheless gathers dust and grease like other metals. Again, this originates from both the surroundings and your skin.

Even while genuine copper does not rust, the patina on its surface can cause it to get tarnished and change color over time. Copper, fortunately, can be cleaned with only a moderate amount of effort, and as long as you don’t leave your jewelry lying around for years, you shouldn’t have any issues with it.

How To Take Care Of Your Genuine Copper Jewelry?

A wide variety of things, from perspiration to swimming pools, can cause copper to tarnish. In addition, discoloration or degradation can occur after even minimal exposure to air and moisture.

If you don’t care for your jewelry, the accumulation of dirt and filth may tarnish and diminish its appearance. Therefore, you should take special care by adequately storing your genuine copper jewelry to avoid this problem.

Lukewarm soap and water

Sometimes, you only need some lukewarm soap and water to get your jewelry back to its sparkling best. For example, use a glass or plastic bowl instead of a metal one when doing dishes. Soak the copper for about ten minutes in soapy water, wash it in clean water, and dry it. Doing so regularly will keep your jewelry sparkling and lessen the likelihood of tarnishing.

Vinegar and salt

Many metals, particularly genuine copper, benefit from vinegar-salt cleaning. Vinegar effectively disinfects and removes dirt and grime but is gentle enough to use without causing tarnishing. To give your copper jewelry a polished sheen, vinegar alone will do for most jobs, but for the challenging ones, consider including salt in the solution.

Lemon juice and baking soda

Because of its pleasant aroma, lemon juice is often used instead of vinegar. For example, copper jewelry cleaned with a lemon juice solution is disinfected and leaves a pleasant scent, even when dealing with obstinate dirt. Cleaning valuable metals like copper with this with baking soda is a breeze.

Baking soda paste

Baking soda’s many uses, and low price make it an essential ingredient. However, when it comes to restoring the luster of your copper jewelry, baking soda comes to the rescue once again. This technique restores gloss and luster while combating fungus and cleansing the area. Mix it in water until it forms a thick space before spreading the baking soda mix to your genuine copper jewelry.

Ketchup

Ketchup is vital if there are spots on your copper artifacts that need a bit more shine and a little less tarnish. As bizarre as that may sound, ketchup’s acetic acid prevents copper jewelry from oxidizing and rusting. To use this method, apply some ketchup to your fingers or an old cloth and massage it over the stained spots. Then, give the ketchup 15 minutes to do its magic by soaking it into the fabric.

Worcestershire sauce

Worcestershire sauce’s acidic qualities are similar to those of vinegar and ketchup, making it an effective cleaner for removing tarnish from copper. Please put it on your jewelry and wait a few minutes for it to soak in. After that, use water and soap to remove any lingering particles. Finally, buff it dry with a jewelry polishing rag to return the sheen.