I take issue your your remarks that there is only a 'tiny' market
for copper jewelry and that most people don't like it because it is
'dirty,' it tarnishes, leaves a residue on the skin, etc, etc, etc.
Well, Claire, it’s not a matter of opinion, it’s historical fact:
Otherwise, the {World Gold} Council's report was upbeat, with
worldwide gold jewelry demand hitting 919.8 tons worth $44.5
billion,
I’m not anti-anything, by the way. Lots of people make lots of
things out of any material they like. I’ve done it myself. It’s the
notion that somehow, “I went into a store and they were selling it”
means much. In the greater scheme of things, copper and brass
jewelry lag far behind any other kind, including (by far) white
metal and even plastic, for the reasons discussed here, among
others. Unless somebody can find sales of $10-$20 billion that
nobody else knows about. You (whoever) like to work in fossilized
cat hair, that’s fine with me. Just don’t get all puffed up about
it. The world buys jewelry that it wants to buy, and doesn’t buy
what it doesn’t. A fundamental tenet of business.
But like the oil painter who discovered acrylics, this silver
smith has discovered copper and he loves it. My percentage markups
are way up. I don't have to sit around and wait for something I can
make a killing on to sell. I have the fun of selling it as fast as
I can make it.
Amen. I was stunned a year or so back when I’d put out a few woven
copper necklaces at a show…Almost everyone who came into
the booth went straight for the copper pieces! And, like you, they
were well sealed. With sterling so out of range these days, my
silver pieces didn’t move but the copper ones sure did. Right on.
Can you sell safe green copper jewelry if the copper is lacquered
with Permalac?
No lacquer or other coating will last on any jewelry for any
extended period of time. The amount of time depends on many
variables but they all eventually fail.
I’d like to hear others reply to this, Sally, but I have done
numerous copper neck rings and necklaces with the Permalac and it
coated beautifully but it’s been replaced now with a safer finishing
product called, Smart Coat, I believe.
Can you sell safe green copper jewelry if the copper is lacquered
with Permalac?
There aren’t any restriction with selling copper jewellery in Oz,
the only time you will get restrictions is for hallmarking, and that
has more to do with the precious metal content.
I’m jumping in to this discussion a little late (been away) because
it feels necessary to point out that there are many people for whom
copper is a strong allergen and who are not aware of this until they
begin to wear copper jewelry (rings and/or earrings). This allergy
produces severe and stubborn dermatitis, creating raw and cracked
skin surfaces. This allergy may develop, I believe, from a repeated
contact with copper and its salts (c. sulfate). As Monona Rossol has
described it, reactions occur from “total bodily burden”, i.e. amount
of exposure and and duration of exposure will effect the extent of
the allergic response.
This means that not only our customers, but we, ourselves, can
develop serious reactions to copper, over a period of time. If we are
using copper to make production pieces, our exposure is increased
compared to one-off pieces. It’s not just the ‘verdigris’ that can
create these reactions, it is simply exposure to the metal.
Of course, sterling silver contains copper, and there are those who
are so sensitive to copper that they cannot wear even sterling
silver, or other alloys that may contain copper, ever.
Copper is an aesthetically lovely metal, with the ability to show a
range of great colours. If made into pieces that do not touch the
skin, like brooches, or, if set onto ‘safer’ materials as a part of
a jewel, then copper’s tendency towards creating allergic reactions
would be reduced. Lacquering just doesn’t do it, as skin oils can
remove the lacquer, which would need to be repeatedly applied. Hard
enough to get customers to bring in pearls to be restrung or prongs
to be tightened, without asking them to come in to have their copper
pieces re-lacquered. And of course lacquering doesn’t protect the
person making the copper jewel from repeated contact with the
copper.
Copper is a healthy metal. Truthful is listed below:
Environmentally, copper is one of the friendliest metals around.
Copper never goes bad - it can be recycled over and over again. It
actually has the highest recycling rate of any engineering metal in
the world. Copper also functions as a defense against germs -
because it is naturally biostatic, bacteria growth is inhibited on
its surface. Many hospitals install copper or copper-alloy doorknobs,
push panels and other hardware to protect against the transfer of
disease.
I'm jumping in to this discussion a little late (been away)
because it feels necessary to point out that there are many people
for whom copper is a strong allergen and who are not aware of this
until they begin to wear copper jewelry (rings and/or earrings).
That would absolutely suck, copper is an essential mineral in our
diet, we can’t metabolise iron without it, it’s also essential for
our immune system. If someone presented with a skin reaction from
copper jewellery, a trip to the doctor would be very wise, as
something else bad might be going on.
People with a copper allergy are in a minority.
Does this mean we should “not” make copper jewellery? No, there’s no
valid reason not to make it.
In very rare cases some people can be allergic to gold (fine gold,
not an alloy), so should you stop making gold jewellery?
If you chose to make hyper-allergic jewellery, you’d just be making
fine silver jewellery, no copper, no nickel, no cobalt, and no gold.
At the end of the day, make what you want, if the customer complains
about a reaction, make them something else.
Adding to my earlier comment about copper. Copper in jewellery and
as an essential part of our diets should not cause an issue… unless
there’s something wrong.
When there’s something wrong, copper can build up to levels where an
allergic reaction, or poisoning happens. When this happens physical
manifestations appear (green hair, yellow eyes etc.).
In a normal healthy body copper allergies and poisoning is not an
issue. The healthy body does not retain excess copper.
Make the jewellery, if people react make them something else, no
problem.
I hadn’t thought of replying to this until I read Linda Kaye-Moses
piece.
I realized I’ve been sawing, filing, grinding, drilling, polishing
copper most of my life. Just thought I’d say that, although there
are some with problems, so far so good here. Just to say, no need to
fear working with copper over time, if you haven’t experienced any
problems.
If you chose to make hyper-allergic jewellery, you'd just be
making fine silver jewellery, no copper, no nickel, no cobalt, and
no gold.
All metals can cause contact dermatitis allergic reactions even
silver, gold and platinum. While it is very rare as you note it is a
reality. While there are very real allergic reactions to metals it is
also very common to see hygiene issues that cause similar reactions
from either bacteria or fungus infestations. In the time I have been
making wedding rings I have seen very few true allergy reactions and
a significantly larger number of hygiene issues.
I have seen very few true allergy reactions and a significantly
larger number of hygiene issues.
James- Oh so true. It can be so awkward sometimes to have to tell a
client “No you are not allergic. Just not so clean either.” Please
don’t get me started on gunked up watch bands and nasty earrings
either.
Does anybody out there have a graceful way of putting that to a
client?
I’ve had to have the “hygiene talk” with a few of my direct reports
over the years. It’s never easy though; somedays being the boss
really sucks. With one fellow I had to be very blunt and hand him a
bar of soap and a stick of deodorant and tell him that he must use
these everyday BEFORE coming to work; it turned out well, he was
with me for 5 years after that. Fortunately, I’ve not had that
problem with any of my clients. The only thing I can think of when
dealing with a client where hygiene is an issue is to suggest that
they clean the earrings/watch band/etc regularly to avoid any
"allergic" reaction as well as washing the affected area. It’s a very
subtle hint but it might help