Copper Care

Copper is a living metal. It has been worn against the skin for thousands of years, and unlike plated jewellery it does not chip, peel, or wear through. What it does is change. How much it changes is up to you.

Let it live

Worn daily, copper slowly deepens from bright rose-gold to a warm chestnut, and eventually takes on a dark, aged patina. Every mark of the life lived around it stays in the metal. Most of our customers let their piece go: the patina is the point. If that is you, no care is needed at all. Wear it and forget it.

Keep it bright

If you prefer the polished, just-off-the-bench look, bringing copper back to full shine takes two minutes and things you already have in the kitchen:

• Lemon and salt. Squeeze the juice of half a lemon into a small bowl, stir in a teaspoon of table salt, and rub the mixture over the copper with your fingers or a soft cloth. You will see the shine return almost immediately. Rinse well under warm water and dry thoroughly with a soft cloth.
• A polishing cloth. For light touch-ups between cleans, a standard jewellery polishing cloth brings the warmth back without any liquid.

Dry the piece properly after cleaning. Water left sitting on copper is what speeds the darkening.

A note on skin

Pure copper can leave a faint greenish mark on the skin beneath it, especially in warm weather. It is harmless, washes off with soap and water, and is simply the metal reacting with the natural oils of your skin. It is also how you know the piece is solid copper rather than plate.

Day to day

• Take your piece off for swimming, showering, and heavy sweat if you want to slow the patina.
• Keep it away from perfumes and lotions where you can.
• Store it somewhere dry. A drawer or pouch is perfect.

However you wear it, bright or aged, the metal underneath is the same solid copper it was on the bench. It will outlast every trend you put it next to.