How to Take Care of Your Bronze and Copper-Silver Jewelry
Caring for jewelry with copper can be a bit tricky, especially when it comes to bronze and silver pieces that have a lot of copper in them. Copper naturally tends to oxidize, a process known as patination, which is caused by oxygen, water, and acidic conditions. These elements can be found in the environment and even in our sweat. While patination is harmless and the tarnishing products are not harmful, it can alter the appearance of your jewelry over time and may even discolor your skin if worn for long periods.
Many people appreciate the patina that forms on bronze or copper jewelry as it ages, seeing it as a unique characteristic of the material.
However, if you prefer to maintain the shiny look of your jewelry, you can follow a similar method used by the Romans thousands of years ago to keep their bronze statues gleaming. By applying a microcrystalline restoration wax, which has a high melting point and protects against fingerprints, you can prevent patination. We include a sample of this wax as a gift with your jewelry purchase.
To use the microcrystalline restoration wax:
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Coat your jewelry with a thin layer of wax.
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Allow it to dry for a few minutes.
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Polish the jewelry with a clean cloth.
Additional guides on protecting your jewelry are available online, including tips on preventing skin patination under bronze or copper rings. One practical solution is using .
In our online store, you can also purchase our cleaning cloths, which are infused with special cleaning solutions to remove patination and restore the shine to your jewelry. You will receive one complimentary cloth with your order, and you can purchase more here: Jewelry cleaning cloth
Using the cleaning cloth is simple: gently polish your jewelry with slight pressure. For more effective cleaning, you can add a drop of water to the cloth in some cases.
In essence, cleaning bronze, copper, or silver jewelry can be an enjoyable experience. Embracing the changes these materials undergo over time can remind us of the passage of time and the cycle of decay and restoration. By sticking to traditional cleaning methods and avoiding modern metal mixes, we bring a touch of history into the present day.