Patina Brass Charm Bracelet

Naked or raw brass charms and chain is easy to patina with a few kitchen-cabinet ingredients. Create an aged look in just a few hours. The natural patina will wear age and change slowly over time or it can be fixed with a quick wipe of wax. This charm bracelet features a mix of charms and one glass heart to add a pop of color.

Ingredients

- 6.5 inches naked brass rolo chain
- 7 assorted naked brass charms
- 1 copper head pin, 1 inch
- 1 orange glass heart bead
- 1 antique copper spring ring clasp, 12 mm
- 1 antique copper jump ring, 11 mm
- 7 links of antique copper really round chain, used as jump rings

Tools:

- Wire cutters
- Round nose pliers
- Chain nose pliers
- Shallow glass plate or baking dish
- 1 tablespoon Kosher or large crystal salt
- ¼ cup ammonia
- Renaissance Wax
- Small soft cloth
- Newspaper or paper towels

To patina the brass:

Place brass chain and charms in shallow glass dish. Cover with ammonia and then tilt the dish so that the charms and chain are out of the liquid. Sprinkle with salt crystals and allow to sit for 20-30 minutes. If color has not begun to develop, swish with ammonia again. Repeat until desired color is reached. You may wish to work outside or cover the dish to reduce the fumes.

After the desired color has been reached remove the charms and chain from the dish and allow to dry thoroughly. If you wish to seal the finish, apply a small amount of Renaissance Wax to the metal surface and rub smooth using the cloth towel. Repeat with all charms and chain to seal in the color.

To make the bracelet:

1. Using your chain nose pliers open the loop on the spring ring clasp. Thread the loop through the chain on the end of the bracelet and close securely. Using your chain nose pliers open the 11 mm jump ring and thread it through the link on the other end of the chain. Close securely.

2. Locate the center of the chain and use your chain nose pliers and a copper chain link to attach the largest charm to this point. Continue attaching charms to the chain, working out from the center and spacing the charms carefully.

3. Thread the heart bead onto the head pin. Using your round nose pliers create a loop in the head pin. Attached this loop to the 11 mm jump ring on the end of the bracelet using your chain nose pliers.

Click here for a printable version of this tutorial

Charms to try: