About my Copper Finishes

Finishes
A few of my designs are sealed with either lacquer or wax, with the item description indicating such.  Most pieces are not sealed and will age or ‘oxidize’ naturally, turning the copper into deep, rich tones, and eventually a striking brown.  As soon as copper is exposed to oxygen, it reacts by creating a layer of copper oxide that acts as protection for the underlying metal.

Oxidization is not harmful in any way, it is merely the copper’s way of protecting the metal and can be easily removed.  The oxidization that forms may turn some people’s skin slightly green when in direct contact and is completely safe.

Lacquer
Sometimes I will lacquer copper to keep it bright and shiny, but will wear off particularly if exposed to chemicals, detergents, and from daily use.

When I do lacquer, I use a clear acrylic lacquer which does not contain any ingredients that should not cause an allergic reaction to your skin.  Two coats of lacquer are applied in either gloss, satin, or matte.  The matte is completely flat allowing the copper to appear natural with no sheen at all.

Once lacquered, you can not polish the copper.

Wax
Certain pieces look better with a wax coating, and I’ll use a long lasting crystalline wax or a coloured wax to enhance the copper tones.  Wax will wear off in time particularly if worn frequently close to the skin. 

Storing your Copper
It’s best to store your pieces in a sealed, plastic bag out of the light.  You can even purchase anti-tarnishing cloths to keep your pieces shiny and bright. Natural copper oxidizes eventually.

Caring for your Copper
Like all things precious to us, care must be taken to ensure the coating will last.  It’s not recommended to expose metals to harsh chemicals, hand sanitizers, or even soaps.  Remove your copper jewelry before washing.  If your copper is coated, be especially mindful of any chemical or detergents.