Copper is believed to have been the first metal that man worked with, as far back as 13,000 B.C., due to its naturally available raw form, ductility, rust and corrosion resistance. Today, copper is the most widely used nonferrous metal in industry largely due to its high heat and electrical conductivity. It is also highly favored in artistic endeavors due to its warm pinkish red color and malleability.
As a soft metal, copper is easily hand forged into infinite forms including bracelets, earrings, pendants and rings using typical metal-smithing tools such as hammers, pliers, jeweler’s saws and a wide variety of metal-forming tools and swage blocks.
Repeated work, particularly hammering, on copper results in the metal hardening to where it becomes very difficult to form and may crack with continued manipulation. Annealing the copper by heating it with a flame restores the metal’s malleability.
In addition to copper’s warm earthy pink-orange natural color, copper is easily oxidized to a myriad of rainbow colors using heat, flame or chemicals such as ammonia and sulfur to create interesting effects like these bracelets.
Paired with other metals such as sterling silver, interesting combinations of contrasting metals are possible such as these rings.