How We Make Copper Jewelry: Our 32-Step Handmade Process

From Raw Copper to Radiant Art Jewelry: Inside Our 32-Step Process

Customers often ask us how we make copper jewelry that stays so bright, colorful, and completely tarnish-free. When you hold a piece of Copper Reflections jewelry, you are looking at the result of decades of artisan craftsmanship…

Perfecting the Art of Copper Jewelry Since 1985: Our Process

Founded in 1985, Copper Reflections is a family-owned artisan studio specializing in vibrant, handcrafted copper jewelry. Inspired by the breathtaking wildlife, nature, and Native American cultures of North America, we meticulously handcraft each piece.

Our bracelets, earrings, rings, and necklaces are designed to be worn as stunning matching sets. Through our signature silver plating and intricate diamond-cutting techniques, every piece is crafted to catch the light brilliantly. Most importantly, we seal every item with our protective clear lacquer to ensure lasting beauty with absolutely no tarnishing, and we finish our earrings with hypoallergenic surgical steel ear wires so they are comfortable for even the most sensitive ears.

When you wear Copper Reflections, you aren’t just wearing jewelry—you are discovering a four-decade legacy of unique craftsmanship, wearable art, and accessible elegance.

When you hold a piece of Copper Reflections jewelry, you are looking at the result of decades of artisan craftsmanship. Making vibrant, tarnish-resistant, and sparkling handmade copper jewelry is a complex process. Here is a behind-the-scenes look at exactly how we craft our unique pieces from raw metal to radiant art.

1. Preparing the Copper (Our Tarnish-Resistant Secret)

A crucial part of how we make copper jewelry involves avoiding moisture at all costs. Early on, we discovered that using traditional jeweler’s ‘rouge’ to buff the copper caused problems… We start with solid copper sheets. First, we polish one side of the sheet and immediately coat it with a protective acrylic lacquer before the clean surface is exposed to air.

Copper naturally tarnishes when exposed to moisture, damp air, or the oils from bare hands. Early on, we discovered that using traditional jeweler’s “rouge” to buff the copper caused problems—the cleaning solutions required to remove the rouge residue caused the copper to change color underneath the lacquer.

Our artisan solution: We use specialized steel brushes with 0.30-mm-thick wires. Because we don’t use rouge, chemicals, or water, the copper stays perfectly dry. We simply dust it and spray the surface with an acrylic finish. By wearing gloves and using this dry-brush technique, we lock in the copper’s natural color, ensuring your jewelry stays beautiful as long as the protective coating is cared for.

2. Silver-Plating for Vibrant Colors

After the first side cures for two days, we use our steel brushes on the other side and apply a silver-plating chemical solution. This solution rubs onto bare copper and instantly turns it a brilliant silver tone. Because the back is already protected with lacquer, it remains copper/ color does not change.

Why silver-plate the top? It makes our artwork pop! When we print our gorgeous wildlife, animal, and Native American designs, the colors look lively, bright, and translucent. This vibrant glow is entirely due to the steel-brushed texture reflecting off the silver-toned surface.

(Note: We used to use traditional screen printing, but to achieve flawless detail, we now use a specialized printer designed exclusively for metal!)

3. Precision Cutting and Shaping

Once the vivid designs are printed, the copper sheets are sprayed with another acrylic finish to protect the artwork. Next, each piece of jewelry is carefully cut out from the sheets. Depending on the intricate details of the design, we use three different methods:

• Precision tool dies

• CNC machining

• Jeweler’s shears for delicate hand-cutting

The individual pieces are then lined up on special wire screens and sprayed one more time to seal and protect the newly exposed, cut edges of the copper.

4. The Signature Sparkle: Diamond-Cut Craftsmanship

The final step is what truly sets our jewelry apart: diamond cutting (also known as bright-cutting).

Just like fine gold jewelers, we use a mini motor tool equipped with a special flywheel bit containing a genuine diamond cutter. Spinning at 40,000 RPM, this tool carves tiny, brilliant facets into the edges of the pieces. We do this inside a special glass box to safely contain the flying copper chips. This technique brings out the copper’s natural luster and makes the final piece sparkle brilliantly in the light.

From raw copper sheet to the final diamond-cut shine, every piece of Copper Reflections jewelry is a labor of love, designed to bring vibrant art and lasting beauty to your collection. Because every piece is sealed with our protective clear lacquer, Copper Reflections handmade copper jewelry does not require polishing. If you ever need to wipe away everyday dust or smudges, you can easily read our quick guide on how to Clean Copper Jewelry safely without damaging the finish.

We hope this behind-the-scenes look at how we make copper jewelry gives you a deeper appreciation for the artistry behind your favorite pieces. From raw copper sheet to the final diamond-cut shine, every piece is a labor of love… Beyond their striking handcrafted beauty, pure copper pieces have a long history in holistic wellness. Learn more about the natural advantages in our guide to copper jewelry health benefits.

We finish our earrings with surgical steel because it is highly durable and widely considered hypoallergenic. However, because it can contain trace amounts of nickel, we always like to be transparent with our highly sensitive customers. You can learn more about its exact composition on the Wikipedia page for Surgical Stainless Steel.