How to Antique Copper Jewelry
Look through your grandmother's jewelry drawer, and you'll find a treasure trove of old copper pieces which have taken on a beautiful brown coating, sometimes referred to as a patina. Over time, the interaction between humid air and copper metal causes the surface to turn a dark brown or a subtle green. While jewelry which has been aged by the manufacturer can be purchased, these pieces are often only available at premium prices. You can replicate the effect using simple chemical processes in the comfort of your own home.
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Things You'll Need
- Rubber gloves
- Safety goggles
- Large bowl
- Measuring cups
- Copper nitrate
- Ammonium chloride
- Calcium chloride
- Large spoon
- Strainer spoon
- Sponge
- Neat bleach
- Hard-boiled eggs
- Plastic bag
- Mild dish soap
- Plastic bristled brush
Instructions
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Using Copper Carbonate
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1
Don a pair of rubber gloves and your safety goggles.
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2
Pour a gallon of water into a large bowl. Measure out four ounces of copper nitrate and add to the bowl. Add four ounces of both ammonium chloride and calcium chloride to the mixture.
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3
Collect each piece of copper jewelry you wish to age. Immerse the items into the mixture and allow them to sit undisturbed for 10 to 15 minutes.
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4
Lift out the jewelry periodically with a strainer spoon to check the progress. Once the desired hue has been achieved, let the mixture drain from the spoon and place the jewelry onto a paper towel to dry.
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5
Rinse the jewelry under warm water to remove excess solution. If desired, the items can be washed with your preferred jewelry cleaner.
Using Other Methods
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6
Fill a small dish with neat bleach. For a light patina, dilute the bleach with several ounces of water.
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7
Moisten and wring out a sponge. Dip the tip of the sponge in the bleach and wipe each piece of jewelry with it.
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8
Allow the bleach to dry onto the jewelry for at least 12 hours. Re-apply the bleach until the desired hue is achieved.
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9
Crush up two to three hard-boiled eggs and place them into a sealable plastic bag. Add the jewelry to the bag and seal it. Allow the jewelry to sit in the bag undisturbed until the copper has greened to the desired hue.
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10
Wash the jewelry thoroughly with mild dish soap and a plastic bristled brush.
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1
Tips & Warnings
Do not allow children or pets near your solution of copper carbonate.
Never submerge your hand into the copper carbonate, as it can burn or irritate skin.
References
- Photo Credit Jupiterimages/Photos.com/Getty Images
