Copper Jewelry Making it Can Save you Money by Avoiding the Rise in Price for Other Metals

Copper jewelry making is a great alternative to the skyrocketing prices in the jewelry making metals market. Many jewelry artists and designers have discovered Copper as exciting alternative. Copper jewelry making can be very versatile, not only because of the cost, but also because Copper is one of the easiest metal to work with. Copper is also very pliable and thus easy to cut, form and fold.

Copper jewelry making is easy than ever because of the accessibility of the metal.

Copper can be found at jewelry supply and metal supply stores. Like many of the other metals, Copper can be purchased in many forms: Wire, sheet, tube, chain, beads and jewelry components. In cylindrical form, copper is available as thin and delicate wire.

It is usually sold in a spool or sometimes as lengths. Sheets of copper are commonly sold in squares.

This sheet metal can come thin enough to bend it with your bare hands, or thick sheets of copper that can be pounded out with a mallet, and pressed into a smaller gauge. Again, the lower the gauge number, the thicker the sheet will be.

Copper Jewelry - Its Comeback and Care

Arthritis is a common ailment that affects close to 43 million people in the United States. As more patients begin to look for holistic remedies that can be safely used with tradition medicine they learn of the healing properties of copper. Copper has been used in medical treatments since before 4000 B.C. and is believed to reduce inflammation related to arthritis. This belief has promoted the reemergence of copper jewelry.

When we look at jewelry, we see that copper is one of the most important metals of the jewelry industry. Copper is one of the most common base metals used to harden soft metals. In other words, your 14kt gold ring may contain up to 41% copper. Copper is also used as the base metal for many types of plating. Your silver plated bracelet may be a core of copper layered with several coating of silver.

Since copper is the 25th most abundant element in the world, it is a relatively common metal. In fact copper is so common that it falls second only to iron where usefulness is gauged.

With the recent rise in spot prices for both silver and gold, copper has emerged as a nicely priced alternative for artisan jewelers. By finding buyers in the artisan market and the holistic market, copper jewelry is now becoming main stream.

So this raises the question, how does one care for their copper jewelry?

When using any type of cleaners, be sure that any gems can with stand the cleaner with out damage.

Over time copper will tarnish as it is exposed to air. The oxidation creates a green patina. To avoid this patina, jewelry owners should attempt to store their jewelry in a sealed re-closable plastic bag with anti-tarnish paper. You should be able to find this paper through your local jeweler. If not, you can buy anti-tarnish paper online.

To clean copper jewelry, you can use commercial cleaners, Worcestershire sauce, ketchup, or water with lemon juice and salt.

Commercial cleaners use chemicals to remove any tarnish or patina on your jewelry. Generally these cleaners are mild acids that with react with the oxidized metals to remove the tarnish.

The Worcestershire sauce and ketchup both contain natural mild acids like malic acid (a common acid in apples and tomatoes.)

A solution of water, lemon, and salt may also clean your copper jewelry. This solution will combine both a mild natural acid and an abrasive (salt) to clean your jewelry. This solution should not be used with soft gemstones such as pearls or fluorite.

You can also clean your copper jewelry with soap or ultrasonic cleaning methods. Tarnish will not be removed using either of these methods. By following these simple methods, you should be able to maintain a beautiful rosy color to your copper jewelry.

Article written by April Williams, read about her biography and her experience as a jewelry artist.

Biography: April Williams - EzineArticles.com Expert Author I am a self taught jewelry designer in North Carolina. I create jewelry using multiple techniques including metalworking, wire wrapping, beading, and lapidary. My work is currently available online at my etsy store.

http://www.elunajewelry.etsy.com Article Source: EzineArticles

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