Care and Feeding of Copper Jewelry
The copper in Idle Talons jewelry is pure and untreated. If you notice your jewelry has gotten a little dull over time, a quick polish should have it gleaming again in no time!
After creation, most Idle Talons copper jewelry is oxidized in a liver of sulphur bath, then polished in a rock tumbler with a stainless steel mix of jewelry polishing shot. If you want to retain the oxidized look of the metal, a soft cloth or toothbrush and a little elbow grease is the best way to keep wrapped copper items gleaming. This is the ONLY safe method of polishing jewelry containing gemstones which might be harmed by acidic polishing treatments.
For copper wire pieces with no gemstones, that oxidized layer can be removed by submerging the jewelry in a glass or ceramic dish filled with white vinegar (add a little salt for a really deep cleaning), and leaving it to soak for 15-20 minutes. Rinse and wipe dry with a soft cloth. Alternatively, salting the cut side of half a lemon and scrubbing the metal will also remove the oxidized layer and develop that bright, copper-penny shine.
Pure copper will react with human perspiration to form copper salts-- the compounds that sometimes turn skin green. The best way to avoid this is to use a mild soap to keep both the piece of jewelry and the skin clean. If jewelry is not worn regularly, storing it in an airtight container (like a plastic bag) will slow down any oxidation. Always make sure jewelry is completely dry before storage.
A side note on copper and health: Copper is a micronutrient that is vital to the health of humans (and all other living things!). I found claims on several jewelry sites that wearing copper against the skin allows your body to absorb copper if needed and it will only turn your skin green when no deficiency is present. Science does not back this claim. Elemental copper can not be absorbed by the human body and no form of copper can be absorbed through the skin. Idle Talons jewelry may make you feel wonderful, but not because it’s curing a copper deficiency!
Care and Feeding of Silver Jewelry
Idle Talons works in both sterling (0.925) and argentium (0.935) silver. Sterling is the most common silver alloy used for jewelry and over time will develop that familiar dark grey tarnish. Argentium is a silver alloy that contains a higher percentage of elemental silver than sterling, and replaces some of the copper content with germanium which makes it more tarnish resistant than any other silver alloy. Argentium blushes yellow-gold as it tarnishes rather than grey. Both sterling and argentium silvers are nickel-free which makes them suitable for most people with metal allergies.
Idle Talons silver jewelry can be treated like any other silver! I find polishing with a soft cloth and a bit of toothpaste to be very effective, but any commercial silver polish should do the trick. If your jewelry includes stone elements, be careful to test any chemical polishers on a small section of stone to make sure there is no reaction before polishing.
My Jewelry Guarantee
My goal is to make beautiful, sturdy jewelry that will last a lifetime! Please contact me if you have any issues during normal daily wear.
I am happy to help maintain all Idle Talons work after it has been sold! Please contact me if you would like a something professionally cleaned and polished. Price will depend on the job— ranging from the price of postage for wire-only pieces, to a bit more for stone settings.
Sometimes tragedy strikes! If you accidentally slam your favorite pendant in a car door, or a pair of earrings gets bent out of shape when they were mistakenly put through the laundry cycle, contact me! Again, price will vary depending on the job, but I may be able to repair the damage. Include a picture of the piece in question so I can get a good idea of what might be required.
And if you lose a single earring? I will absolutely make you another single to match the remainder for half the price of a pair!
I truly want every customer to be happy with their purchase, so please don’t hesitate to contact me at idle.talons@gmail.com if you have any questions or concerns!