What are the health benefits of wearing copper?

Copper jewellery is recommended to treat ailments like joint inflammation, pain, skin ailments, headaches, epilepsy, and lung disorders.  It can also increase energy and can improve digestion. Although copper toxicity is a danger in large amounts, the amount of copper that may be absorbed by wearing a bracelet is so minuscule that there is no likely serious risk of side effects from wearing copper.  Some people with metal allergies may experience irritation. This can also occur with gold and silver jewellery.  

Copper tarnishes over time and can sometimes turn your skin green.   This is known as the oxidation reaction. The copper reacts with oxygen in the air, your sweat and skin oils creating a green layer of copper carbonate on your skin. The green color fades when you stop wearing the copper, and this colour change it is not harmful to your skin or health.  

In fact, copper is healthy for you to wear hence why we use this metal.  As non-coated copper contains health benefits, we have not treated these pieces with varnish which stops the green staining of skin and the bodies ability to experience the added health benefits of wearing our gorgeous jewellery.   

Copper can be cleaned easily using equal parts vinegar and bicarb or soda. Either pour the vinegar and bicarb of soda into a bowl and place the copper jewellery in the bowl for 5 minutes to soak and then remove and polish using a jewellery polishing cloth that is non-abrasive.  

If your jewellery piece contains stones or crystals, you can clean it by turning the vinegar and bicarb of soda into a past and then polishing the jewellery piece using a clean abrasive free cloth and the paste to remove any tarnish provided you avoid cleaning areas where the crystals sit.  Do not submerge the copper jewellery piece into the bowl if it contains a crystal as this will damage the crystals.  

If you do not want to make a vinegar/ bicarb soda cleaning solution, you can purchase a cleaning solution like the Hagerty brand copper and brass cleaning product.  Ensure you follow the instructions of the product you use.   Be careful to avoid contact with gemstones and crystals. 

Brass is a mixture of silver and copper and like copper it has the same benefits that ware listed for copper. Like copper and silver, some people with metal allergies may experience irritation from wearing brass.  An allergic reaction is not the same as having skin turn green from wearing copper.   

Brass can tarnishes over time and can sometimes turn your skin green.   Again this is known as the oxidation reaction. The copper reacts with oxygen in the air, your sweat and skin oils creating a green layer of copper carbonate on your skin. The green color fades when you stop wearing the brass, and it is not harmful to your skin or health.  

In fact, brass is healthy for you to wear hence why we use this metal.  As non-glossed brass jewellery piece contains health benefits, therefore we have not treated our jewellery pieces with varnish so you can experience the benefits of wearing these gorgeous jewellery pieces.   

Brass can be cleaned easily using equal parts vinegar and bicarb or soda. Either pour the vinegar and bicarb of soda into a bowl and place the copper jewellery in the bowl for 5 minutes to soak and then remove and polish using a jewellery polishing cloth that is non-abrasive.  

If your jewellery piece contains stones or crystals you can clean it by turning the vinegar and bicarb of soda into a past and then polishing the jewellery piece using a clean abrasive free cloth and the paste to remove any tarnish provided you avoid cleaning areas where the crystals sit.  Do not submerge the brass jewellery piece into the bowl if it contains a crystal as this will damage the crystals.  

If you do not want to use the vinegar/ bicarb soda cleaning solution you can purchase a cleaning solution like the Hagerty product.  Ensure you follow the instructions of the product you use.  Be careful to avoid contact with gemstones and crystals. 

Silver helps with internal heat regulation and circulation. Many have reported improvements in energy levels and a balance in moods after wearing silver, as its natural properties may offset outside electrical disturbances, improve circulation and overall body temperature balance, and help maintain cleanliness and a strong immunity. Silver is known to fight infections, prevents cold and flu, and can even help with wound healing. Silver is also associated with antibiotics and skin repair and is known to help heal other skin conditions such as psoriasis and eczema. 

Yes, sterling silver can tarnish over time.  Sterling Silver is known as .925 silver.  This number comes from the fact that sterling silver contains 92.5% silver and 7.5$ of other metals usually being copper.  Like copper over time sterling silver can sometimes turn a person's skin green.  This is due to the amount of copper found in the silver.  With the right care and cleaning the surface of all your jewellery from dirt, oils and water after each use the tarnishing will be minimal.     

Like iron rusts when exposed to oxygen, silver can tarnish when exposed to the air due to a reaction between silver and hydrogen sulfide in the air therefore jewellery that has not been worn for a while may need to be cleaned to remove a dull tarnish layer. 

Sterling silver can be cleaned using a jewellery polishing cloth if the tarnish is minor.  Alternatively, you can use the baking soda and vinegar method described for cleaning brass and copper ensuring you avoid stones when cleaning and you do not submerge jewellery with stones in the solution.

If you do not want to use the vinegar/ bicarb soda combination, then you can purchase a cleaning solution like the Hagerty brand silver cleaning product.  Ensure you follow the instructions of the product you use.  Be careful to avoid contact with gemstones and crystals. 

 Like Silver, gold has multiple health benefits when you wear it.  It can regulate body temperature to avoid chills and hot flashes, relieves arthritis symptoms, it can reduce stress and anxiety, boost immunity, improve skin health, and healing the nervous and endocrine systems and protect against infection.  Gold is plated on the tips of acupuncture needles to make them more effective in alleviating pain and releasing the energy flow in the body.

In jewelry-making, you’ll rarely, if at all, find jewelry labeled 24k gold. That’s for various reasons, including the fact that 24k gold is too soft to work with.  18k gold is a great option when wanting to wear a cost-effective gold jewellery piece. From the number, you can tell that’s not pure gold. That’s because jewelers add other alloys, typically copper, to strengthen the metal. That makes it less susceptible to tarnish and stronger.

Gold plating is a process where a thin layer of gold is placed on other metals like copper. Since it is a layer, this will get tarnished with time. Hence you have to take good care of gold-plated jewelry.  When you want to clean them, you cannot clean them the way you clean gold jewelry because of its delicacy. 

Wipe your gold-plated jewelry softly using a jewellery cleaning cloth, cotton balls or cotton swabs. After use, clean your jewelry using a cotton ball to remove dirt, oil and dust. Gently wipe down the posts of your earrings, pretty pendants, beautiful bangles, and the chains.  Make a solution by mixing a few drops of mild dishwashing liquid and water. Dip the cotton swab in the solution and clean gently avoiding the stone. Rinse off with a swab that has been soaked in water and dry the jewellery piece thoroughly.

Only use a cleaning solution that specifically says it can be used on gold-plated jewellery and ensure you follow the instructions of the product you use.  Be careful to avoid contact with gemstones and crystals.