Native Element Metal - Copper

Most minerals occur in combinations of chemicals as compounds. However, 20 or so are ‘native elements’ that occur in small quantities by themselves in relatively pure form. Most native elements are metals such as gold, which does not readily combine with other materials. Many metals typically occur in conjunction with others in ores, but these less reactive metals are often found alone.

So let’s take copper, a warm reddish gold in color, copper is the most easily recognized of all metals. It is quite soft (a hardness of 2.5 to 3), and sometimes found pure in native form, which is why it was one of the first metals people learned to use. It is the easiest to solder and is very flexible and tough. In addition, it has a very good conductivity that is only slightly less than silver.

Copper was probably the first metal used to make weapons and objects. It’s uses included making arrow and spear tips, axes and other tools that can be traced back to the forth millennium in the Middle East. The oldest knives found, dating back 6,000 years, are made of copper. Pure copper is often found in sulphide-rich veins in warm desert areas, or in cavities in ancient lava flows. Like silver, it often grows in branching masses and tarnishes quickly. Yet the tarnish is bright green, not black like silver, and a copper deposit is often revealed by bright green stains on rocks called copper bloom. As a native element, copper is quite rare, so most of the copper used today comes from ores such as chalcopyrite.

Magical and ritual lore find that copper has been linked with the divine. During ancient Mesopotamian times, it was attributed to the Queen of Heaven as well as to the goddesses associated with the planet Venus. It has also been sacred to the Sun in Babylon as well as to the early inhabitants of the Pacific Northwest. Copper can be used effectively on all chakras but is particularly effective on the heart and root chakras as preparation for meditation. It has long been used to stimulate healing. This is said to be because of the copper’s ability to balance the body’s polarity, or the flow of the projective and receptive energies. Copper’s healing applications are boundless. In Mexico, a copper penny is placed on the navel for relief of rheumatism, arthritis, and any painful condition. A metal of Venus, copper is also known to attract love and money; old pennies minted in leap years, are often placed in the kitchen of a house to attract money to the household. Copper is said to be a lucky metal because of its past solar attributions, and so can be used in combination with any luck-bringing gemstones.

Visit our jewelry collections to find your hidden treasure of luck.

*Research from various gem-mineral-crystal-metal books.

Hot New Mix in Red

This new design uses some of the new lampwork beads we just picked up in Tucson. It’s all about the red with this design, and lots of it! Using a Sponge Coral ax style pendant, we mixed it up with some swirled beige/cream/red rondelle lampwork beads, red hot natural Coral, and for something different kicked it up a notch by adding copper accents.

This one definitely says...Red, hot and spicy!

See this and many other new designs in our designer collections.

Wire Book Review: Contemporary Copper Jewelry

There are some really great books out there on all sorts of jewelry subjects. I came across one by an excellent author, Sharilyn Miller, who has done wire wrapping and beading techniques for years. This new book of hers, called Contemporary Copper Jewelry: Step-by-Step Techniques and Projects, in my opinion, hits the mark on a variety of techniques. As always, it starts out giving basic techniques and instruction suitable for any level of wire wrapper. She incorporates seedbeading into an art with the Peacock Wheels Necklace, gives a fresh look to contemporary pebbles that are ‘free form wrapped’ into aged chain; and adds flare and funk to Coil Dangle Earrings and Coin Pearl Coil Wrapped Bracelet.

An excellent book of projects and techniques, look for it at your local book or hobby/craft store.

Venture into Southwest Designs

I do a lot of Turquoise mix designs; as fast as I can make them they find new homes. Turquoise is a favorite among many people and can go with just about anything from jeans, t-shirts, to dresses, and look casual to dressy.

From the mines of Arizona comes this lovely southwest style necklace. Arizona Turquoise nuggets that have mixes of browns, rusts, blues and greens; accented with copper, dark Topaz crystals, and Onyx; hanging from this Southwest splendor is a one-of-kind dichroic glass pendant pulling some of the same color combinations from the Turquoise. Wear it short or really short with the cooper chain and complete the look with a pair of dangle earrings in the same stones.

Turquoise: Spiritual attunement, cleansing, healing, protection, valor, soothing, peace of mind, guidance through the unknown, romantic spontaneity.

This and many other natural gemstone jewelry designs can be seen and purchased from our website.

Copper - Gemstone or Mineral

Next to silver and gold, many jewelry designs are accented in copper. While it is not an actual gemstone, what is it really? Copper is a native element that occurs in nature uncombined with other elements. The native elements form under greatly contrasting physical and chemical conditions; in a variety of rock types. So, what is copper exactly? It is a naturally occurring free metallic state, considered to be one of the first metals to be used by humans. It is a relatively soft metal, easy to solder, flex and manipulate into any form; this is why it is a popular material used by wire workers in early designs or tests before conforming the designs to silver or gold. It gets its name from the Latin aes Cyprium, meaning ‘metal of Cyprus’, shortened to cyprium and later corrupted into cuprum.

Copper is found in large quantities, usually massive aggregates, some said to weight up to several tons. When copper is well crystallized, it can be found in cubic or dodecahedral crystals in the forms of mini tree-like shapes. It can be found all over the world with most common deposits in the United States. It is usually orange or copper red in color and looks good mixed with any gemstones.

Copper’s healing power have been used since the Middle Ages to promote smooth functioning of the glands and prevent wear and tear of joints. It encourages a positive attitude and self-confidence, improve decision making and brings harmony among the members of a family.

Many of the jewelry designs created at Timeless Designs incorporate copper in some way. Visit our website to see the selection of necklaces and pendants done with copper.

Lampwork Coins Copper & Magnesite

Lampwork beads are incredible since they rarely come out the same every time. These particular coin beads in this necklace are swirls of green, yellow, black, cream, and copper. Giving the necklace the highlight between chunks of white magnesite that have a slight brown matrix brought out by the loose copper spacers; then I added some ‘bling’ in light topaz crystals.

Looking to add a little balance and increase hopefulness? Or how about more energy, better concentration and clarity in decision making? Some of the colors in this necklace reflect the Chakra; Green is for Heart Chakra to increase love, empathy and compassion; Yellow is the Solar Plexus Chakra that symbolizes personal power, fulfillment, abundance, courage, and self confidence.

Visit Timeless Designs for more gemstone jewelry.

Outside the Box

These are new designs from the studio, I' ve been working to get a little ‘outside the box’ compared to my usual designs. Unique designs are available on our website.

Turquoise nuggets offset among oval silvertone link chain.

Handcrafted silvertone wire dangle earrings in glass and seedbeads.

A twist on triple strands; copper textured links hang to 3 strands of gemstones in turquoise, magnesite and wood beads.