Frequently Asked Questions

Copper is one of the oldest metals known to humanity, used for thousands of years across cultures all over the world. It is a naturally occurring element, warm reddish brown in colour, and exceptionally conductive. In its pure form it is soft and workable, which is what makes it so beautiful to shape by hand. Most of the world's copper comes from mines in Chile, Peru and the United States, though smaller deposits exist across Europe and the UK.

At Bent Copper, copper is everything. We use it in the form of wire, coiling and wrapping it by hand around natural gemstones to create settings that hold each stone securely without glue or heat. Where possible we source our copper from UK suppliers, as it costs a little more but it feels right to keep the supply chain close to home. Copper has a character that silver and gold simply do not have. It ages, it patinas, it feels warm in your hand. We love that about it.

Labradorite is a feldspar mineral first documented in Labrador, Canada in the 18th century, though it is also found in Madagascar, Finland and Norway. What makes it extraordinary is labradorescence, the optical phenomenon where light refracts between the stone's internal layers and throws up flashes of blue, green, gold and sometimes violet. No two stones ever flash exactly the same. Geologically it is a relatively common mineral, but optically it is one of the most striking stones in the world.

Labradorite is the stone at the heart of most Bent Copper pieces, and it chose us as much as we chose it. In crystal and spiritual practice it is known as the stone of transformation, associated with intuition, creativity and change. Many people who are drawn to it describe a feeling before they have even heard what it is supposed to mean. We choose every single labradorite by hand, holding it up to the light and waiting for the flash. We source from trusted suppliers where provenance is traceable, because the gemstone trade can be murky and that is not something we are comfortable with.

Yes, genuinely, and not as a marketing line. Every Bent Copper piece is listed once. When it sells, it is gone. That is not a scarcity tactic; it is just the reality of what we do. Each piece is built around a specific stone, and that stone is unique. Even if we found something similar tomorrow, the flash would be different, the shape would be different, the piece would be different.

This is something we feel strongly about. There is no batch production here, no moulds, no replication. When you buy a Bent Copper piece, you are buying something that exists only once. The stone in your hands has never been in a piece of jewellery before and never will be again. That is a strange and beautiful thing, and we think it is worth saying clearly.

Yes, every Bent Copper piece is packaged ready to give. We think the moment of unwrapping a piece of jewellery matters, and we want the experience to feel as considered as the piece itself. Whether you are buying for yourself or for someone else, it arrives presented and protected.

Our packaging is designed to reflect the nature of what is inside: understated, thoughtful, and a little bit special. If you are buying a gift and would like us to add a personal note, just include a message at checkout and we will tuck it in. We love being part of someone's gifting moment.

For pendant pieces we offer copper chains in three lengths: 16 inches (41cm), 18 inches (46cm) and 20 inches (51cm). We also offer an adjustable leather cord as an alternative to chain, which sits anywhere between about 16 and 22 inches and has a natural, earthy look that works beautifully with copper and stone. If you are buying a necklace rather than a pendant, we also offer a 2 inch extension chain to give a little extra flexibility in fit.

If you are not sure which length to go for, 18 inches is the most popular and sits just below the collarbone on most people, which is a classic pendant length. 16 inches sits higher, almost at the throat, and works beautifully for smaller, delicate pieces. 20 inches drops a little lower, which tends to suit larger or heavier pendants. All chain and cord options are included in the price of the piece, so there is no extra charge for choosing leather over copper. Choosing both a copper chain and a leather cord together is available for just £1 more.

We use Stripe to process all payments on the Bent Copper website. Stripe is one of the most trusted payment processors in the world, used by millions of businesses globally. It accepts all major credit and debit cards including Visa, Mastercard and American Express, and supports Apple Pay and Google Pay for a faster checkout experience.

We never see, store or have access to your card details, as all of that is handled entirely by Stripe's secure infrastructure. When you check out on Bent Copper, your payment information goes directly to Stripe, not to us. You will see a familiar card form at checkout, and once your payment is confirmed you will receive an email confirmation from us. Simple, secure and straightforward.

We dispatch UK orders via Royal Mail Tracked, which typically arrives within 1 to 2 working days. Once your order is dispatched you will receive a confirmation from us and can track your parcel using your Royal Mail tracking number. We aim to dispatch within 1 day of receiving your order.

If you have ordered something as a gift or have a specific date in mind, feel free to drop us a note at hi@bent-copper.co.uk and we will do our best to accommodate you. During busy periods like Christmas, we would recommend ordering with a little extra time to spare, as we always aim to get everything out promptly but Royal Mail can be busier than usual in December.

Copper is a living metal, and it changes over time, developing a patina as it reacts with air and moisture. This patina can range from a warm burnished brown to deeper antique tones, and many people love the way copper ages. If you prefer to keep the bright original finish, a gentle polish with a soft cloth or a specialist copper cleaning solution will bring it back.

To keep your Bent Copper piece looking its best, store it in the box or a small resealable bag when you are not wearing it, as this limits exposure to air and slows the patina process. Avoid wearing it in the shower, swimming or while applying perfume or lotions, as chemicals can accelerate tarnishing. Give it a gentle wipe with a soft cloth after wearing. If a deeper clean is needed, a tiny amount of lemon juice or a specialist copper cleaner works well, but rinse thoroughly and dry completely afterwards.

Honestly, it can, and it is worth being upfront about that. The green tint that sometimes appears on skin where copper jewellery sits is caused by a chemical reaction between the copper and the acids naturally present in your sweat. It is completely harmless and washes off easily, but it does happen for some people more than others. Skin chemistry varies from person to person, so what marks one person may not mark another at all.

In our experience, most people who wear copper regularly find that any marking reduces over time as their skin adjusts. Keeping the piece dry, avoiding wearing it during exercise or in the heat, and wiping it after wearing all help. If you know you react to copper, our pieces with darker patina finishes tend to mark less than brightly polished copper, as the patina acts as a mild barrier. And if you are ever unsure, please do reach out before buying and we will give you an honest steer.

Bent Copper is an artisan jewellery studio in Hartlepool within Northeast England. We create handcrafted one of a kind pieces for those who love unique style.

Our collection features a wide range of necklaces, pendants, earrings, bracelets, rings and brooches along with stunning jewellery sets and much more. Specialising in wire wrapping we work mostly with labradorite stones. Known as the stone of magic labradorite symbolises transformation and strength and provides protection for the wearer. We turn raw copper and these mystical gems into wearable art.

Our pieces are perfect for soulful gifts or a special treat for yourself. Whether for a birthday, Christmas or Mother’s Day you will find something here that the high street cannot match. Every piece is a part of Hartlepool heritage crafted with passion along the Northeast coast.

Bent Copper: Beautifully unique and handcrafted for you.

It started with a bag of broken jewellery from a charity shop. Before Bent Copper was anything, there was a kitchen table, a pair of pliers, and a tangle of old chains and cracked brooches bought for a few pounds. Not to fix them, just to understand them. To see how the loops connected, where the tension sat, how things held together. That habit turned into making. The making turned into wire. And the wire led to copper.

Copper never let go. There is something about it, the warmth of it, the way it moves, the long history it carries as one of the oldest materials humans have ever shaped. What started as curiosity became a practice, and the practice became Bent Copper. We are a small, independent jewellery brand based in Hartlepool in the North East of England, making every piece by hand. We are not a factory. We are not a team. It is just one person, a workbench, and a lot of love for what copper and stone can do together.

Bent Copper is based in Hartlepool, in the North East of England. All of our pieces are designed and made here, by hand, in a small home studio. We are a genuinely independent, one person business, and not a brand that outsources production or imports wholesale pieces. Everything you see on the website was made here.

Being based in the UK matters to us. Where we can, we source our copper from UK suppliers, and we take care over where our gemstones come from too. We want Bent Copper to reflect the values of slow, considered making and not fast fashion jewellery. When you buy from us, you are buying something made by a real person in a real place, and we think that is worth something.