Should Newly Made Copper Bracelets Be Aged?

As promised in my previous post, I made variations of the copper bangle bracelet (directions for first bracelet from Contemporary Copper Jewelry)and photographed the newly made bracelets. Copper naturally tarnishes
easily giving an aged look, but not a dark color for quite some time. To keep the first bracelet relatively shiny, to remove the tarnish I rubbed it
with #0000 steel wool and an occasional rub with a polishing cloth.

Liver of sulfur is used to age copper.
After reading several articles about aging copper bracelets in liver of sulfur, I decided to use photographs to compare how each bracelet looked before and after aging. The bracelets were dipped in warm liver of sulfur solution only a minute or so until they turned black. After removing from the solution, and rinsing in water, I dried them thoroughly. Steel wool and a polishing cloth were used to polish and bring out the highlights.

Original Copper Pipe Bangle Bracelet several weeks old polished with steel wool and polishing cloth
Copper Swirl Top Bracelet Not Aged	Copper Swirl Top Bracelet Aged
Handcrafted Copper Medallion Bangle Bracelet Not Aged	Handcrafted Copper Medallion Bangle Bracelet Aged
Copper Wire Wrapped Bangle Bracelet Not Aged	Copper Wire Wrapped Bangle Bracelet Aged

Which bracelet do you think is most attractive? Aged or not aged? My preference has changed to preferring the aged bracelets. These bracelets can be found on our website http://www.gemstonebeadjewelry.com/.

Copper Bracelets

After making the copper bracelet on the right from recycled water pipe, I decided to purchase copper tubing and try to perfect my technique. Two sizes of copper tubing were available-one fourth inch outside diameter and on fourth inch inner diameter. Since both were inexpensive, I purchased both sizes.

To make a variation, the smaller tube was selected for the new bracelet. The smaller tubing was much easier to bend around the bracelet mandrel than the recycled tubing probably due to the thinner tube wall. The thinner wall has not affected the sturdiness of the bracet. To give variety, I wrapped the extending wire before making the swirls. This bracelet is definitely better looking and will be a welcome addition to my grand daughters' copper jewelry collections.

Recycling Copper Pipe For Jewelry

We replaced copper pipe under our sink. I saved the two eighteen inch lengths we removed in hopes of making copper jewelry. You can imagine my delight upon reading Sharilyn Miller's new book Contemporary Copper Jewelry to see directions for a copper bangle bracelet using copper pipe. The old dark dingy copper pipe was polished to a gleaming shine with very fine steel wool according to the directions. Using the pipe cutter was a new experience, but not very difficult. Bending the pipe around the bracelet mandrel took patience. An advantage to using the old pipe was the bracelet did not have to be textured or distressed. I was pleasantly surprised at how quickly the bracelet was completed. New pipe which I purchased for another bracelet was not as difficult to bend around the mandrel. I am now busy trying to develope variations to the design. This book is an excellent reference and resource with detailed easy to follow directions. This is one time being a pack rat paid off!!