Willow Copper Earrings by Thandi & Maya

This is a question I've been asked for over 40 years. Here's what I know.

Copper is an essential mineral that our bodies genuinely need, and wearing it against the skin is a tradition that has existed for thousands of years, long before modern medicine.

I have never made promises to anyone. I can only tell you that the people who came to me at 55, 60, or 65 continue to return, year after year, decade after decade, without me ever having to explain why.

Whether you call it the placebo effect or not, those who wear our copper jewelry notice something they want to keep experiencing. For me, that has always been enough.

Clinical studies conducted so far have yielded mixed results, and I won't pretend otherwise.

What I can tell you is this: copper has been worn against the skin for over 3,000 years, in almost every civilization worldwide. From ancient Roman soldiers to Ayurvedic traditional healers, from Native American artisans to generations of women who passed this tradition on to their daughters.

They didn't conduct double-blind clinical trials. They simply wore what they had seen their grandmothers wear.

And our customers are not scientists either: they are people who, after trying many other solutions, decided to give copper a chance.

Yes, absolutely.

Pure copper is naturally hard-wearing. For centuries, it has been worn by fishermen, farmers, and artisans, enduring all types of weather and water.

That said, there are a few useful things to know:

• Saltwater and chlorine accelerate the natural formation of patination, so the jewelry will darken and develop a worn look more quickly.
  
• This is not damage, but a normal reaction of copper to its environment, just like with any authentic metal.
  
• Frequent or prolonged exposure to chlorinated pools can change the surface finish over time.
  
• If you prefer to maintain its original shine, rinse the jewelry with fresh water after swimming and dry it gently.
  

Otherwise, wear it without worries. It's a piece of jewelry designed to be lived in every day, not to be kept in a drawer.

Copper is a base metal, yes.

What you're paying for is 99.9% pure copper, entirely handcrafted, one piece at a time, to quality standards on which we have never compromised.

We maintained control over every single piece of jewelry in this collection because we never wanted to sacrifice quality for mass production. No mass production. No plating. No coating.

Each piece of jewelry is carefully shaped, engraved, and finished by hand. Once this collection is sold out, it will not be produced again.

You can find a copper-plated bracelet for a few euros anywhere. This is something completely different.

As soon as your order is confirmed, you will receive an email with your order number. To track your order, go to our "Track Order" page and enter your order number or email address.

If you have any problems or questions, please send an e-mail to info@thandi-maya.co.za