News — wear your wellness

I have been making, wearing and selling copper bracelets since 1969.  During this time people often asked: "Will this bracelet turn my wrist green?"  My answer has been: "I don't know.  We work with pure copper and its alloys, and we guarantee our craftsmanship for our lifetime, but the way a person reacts to copper doesn't depend on us.  The only way we know to find out is by trying one."

Most customers like to wear copper and do not mind having an occasional green stain under their bracelets.  Some are very health conscious and, as proof that the copper is working, they expect to see a green mark where copper touches their skin. These same marks make others feel self-conscious. Ironically, the green markings almost seems to prefer the people who worry the most about getting them.  The same bracelet which remains shiny for one person, will turn another person's wrist green, or may acquire multicolored patinas on another.  Could these changes be related to a person's metabolism?

The answer is Yes!  The green stains are caused by deposits of chelated copper and their presence relates directly to the body chemistry of the wearer.  Chelated means they are copper compounds in a soluble form assimilable by our bodies.  Copper in its pure metallic form cannot be taken in by our bodies, while chelated copper compounds are more easily absorbed by our skin.  They become visible when the wearer's body is dissolving the copper faster than it is absorbing it.  This happens when there is profuse perspiration (as when exercising on a hot day), or when our sweat becomes more acidic.  The acidity of our sweat increases with physical, emotional, or mental stress.  It also increases with unhealthy diets.

Green marks are also believed to appear when the body is hungry for copper.  The human body needs more minerals when growing, when pregnant, or when recovering from disease or surgery.  A body starved of copper will even manage to dissolve the copper contained in gold alloys and leave marks under 14K gold rings.  If you suspect having copper deficiency, please consult your holistic doctor, naturopath, or dietician, who by ordering a simple blood test will know the mineral supplements you need to regain balance.  As prevention, choose to eat organically grown produce whenever possible.

The green stains are normally absorbed overnight and if needed they wash off with soapy water.  If wearers strongly dislike the green marks, they have two options.  They can choose to address the causes and make healthier choices or simply ignore the warning and wear no more copper. 

Whenever possible we teach our customers how to read the changes in their copper jewelry and how to maintain it by themselves.

It took me nearly 30 years of practical research and collecting data from around the world to better understand this complex copper/green wrist phenomenon.  In September 1995, the International Association for New Science invited me to present my findings at their Annual Conference in Ft. Collins, CO.

But one of the most concise, and clever, remarks I've heard about this remains to be, "Copper, when in contact with the skin, forms chelates with human sweat (sometimes seen as a green deposit under the bracelet) and is thus absorbed through the skin.  Think of a bracelet as a 'time-release' source of copper."  by Dr. Ray Walker, Univ. of Newcastle, Australia.

~~~ Sergio Lub

Customers who have worn our jewelry over the last 50 years have often contacted us about the benefits they've experienced wearing our work. Below we share a variety of some of our favorite testimonials. To view our hundreds of inspired designs, click here.

Customer Testimonials

When I first wore these copper bracelets, I had a lot of pain in my thumbs and was losing strength in my hands from swelling and arthritis. The pain disappeared in a few weeks and has not returned, except once when I quit wearing them for a while. One of my first bracelets got lost, and I just received the new one and it has reduced pain in my arm and right side of my body. These are magic bracelets with the combination of copper and magnets, and lovely too. I'm proud to wear them, and do, day and night.
- Evaleena R. 

I did have to quit sewing when my arthritis got bad at age 50 but thankfully I found Sergio’s copper bracelets. Been sewing and quilting every day since then.
- Sandy C. 

I have worn your bracelets for about 20 years. I have tried others, some were very pretty, but without the magnet spacer at the ends, I get a weeping sore under the ends. So all I buy is yours because they cause no other problems and relieve the arthritis in my hands. 
- Christine T. 

I love your jewelry and somehow it made my carpal tunnel pain disappear! Thank you! Thank you! I work at a large clinic and my colleagues cannot yet believe that I replaced my ugly brace for a beautiful Sergio Lub bracelet!
- Lonnie F.

It has been about six weeks since I have been wearing one of Sergio’s copper bracelets. I do now know whether or not it’s the bracelet (must be) but I have virtually no more pain from arthritis and my golf handicap has improved considerably.”
- Richard W. 

I am a person who has had rheumatoid arthritis for over 20 years now. It has caused me quite a lot of pain and trouble through the years. I do take medications that I am fortunate to be able to take through my health insurance, however, there are times that the medications just don't keep the inflammation and pain down, and pain medications may be disruptive to the body.

I find magnetic therapy very helpful and have been using them over the years. Since I discovered Sergio Lub, I am a customer for life. Gone are the days of plain or sub-standard pieces of jewelry. I love (!) my Copper Sage Magnetic Bracelet. I can literally feel the strength and energy from it. Of course I have many other designs as well, but I use the larger piece on my right side due to scoliosis, and I always wear one on my left side too.

Since I am such a believer, I also sell to friends, family and co-workers. My husband loves these too and swears that his magnetic Seven Metals has cured his tennis elbow. While we don't make claims for the medical community, we can tell you what has helped us.

I just want everyone to know that I personally am a believer in this therapy, it works for me, and I highly recommend it. Besides, I think they look great on me and my wonderful hubby too!
- Stephanie T.

Just recently I started experiencing some pain in my hand. I put the bracelet on just to wear it and most of the pain went away. 
- Marcia 

On my recent vacation to Canada, I purchased one of your magnetic copper bracelets, and I can’t tell you how much it has helped my chronic wrist pain. It has been a joy to wear.
- J.H. 

Your product is wonderful. My wrist is pain free as long as I wear it. I have worn it since 2000 and have no problem holding a pen, typing, or writing.
- M.J. K 

We are in our mid forties and have been noticing some joint stiffness. Since we started wearing the bracelets we feel much better. 
- A.W. 

I started wearing your bracelet three weeks ago. I have osteo-arthritis in my left hand, and had to wear a brace all day. Since wearing your bracelet, I no longer need a brace!
- Sheila D.

Customers who have worn our jewelry over the last 50 years have often contacted us about the benefits they've experienced wearing our work. Below we share a variety of some of our favorite testimonials. To view our hundreds of inspired designs, click here.

Customer Testimonials

About 20 years ago before my husband, Dr. Len Saputo, was using the photon stimulator to help his patients with pain, inflammation and a variety of other ailments, I had a very sore thumb joint that radiated into the palm of my hand below my thumb and into my wrist. I also had a “trigger” thumb that developed at the same time. My thumb joint was throbbing and so painful that I went to the orthopedist for a cortisone injection after trying DMSO, acupuncture and various alternative creams. After a while, it started hurting again. After my third injection, the doctor said he couldn’t do any more injections and if it continued to bother me, he’d like to operate. I was not happy about that idea, especially since my husband’s cousin had recently had surgery on his thumb and developed a serious MRSA infection and it was now a gaping wound and he was getting massive amounts of antibiotics.

Coincidentally, my husband came home from work with a beautiful copper and brass bracelet that he said one of his patients made and gave to him (Sergio Lub) and he wanted me to have it. Nothing was said about the healing properties of copper. I thought it was pretty and put it on and ended up wearing it to bed all night. In the morning, it was as if a miracle happened. I was pain free and even the trigger thumb disappeared.

I was so excited that when my brother in law complained of a “tennis wrist”, I loaned it to him. He excitedly called me a couple of hours later to report the disappearance of the pain in his wrist and was back on the tennis court playing. I have loaned it to others and recommended Sergio’s healing copper bracelets.
 - Vicki 

I went to the hospital today to get an ultrasound done.  The lady doing the ultrasound was wearing one of your old bracelets.  It was definitely one of your magnetics. She told me that she has to wear it everyday or the pain in her arm is intolerable. She is very serious about wearing it every day for some 20 years.
 - Jan

Several years ago while riding our motorcycle, my hand would not hold the throttle grip without hurting.  Girls in my shop often wore copper bracelets when they had an issue, so when I saw this, it came to mind that I should try it.  I was taking some over the counter drugs twice a day for arthritis pain but I still had difficulty in working the throttle of the cycle. Then we stopped at a jewelry store that also carried Sergio Lub bracelets and I said let’s try it. Twenty-two years later, using these bracelets, there has been no more arthritis pain and no more over the counter drugs.  I wear these 24/7 and good-bye pain.
  - Cy C.

I purchased my original Sergio Lub bracelet in Maine eight years ago and since then, thanks to its health properties, I have avoided a scheduled rotator shoulder surgery. Wearing the bracelet, this 71 year old Gramma can once again throw a softball. I never take it off.
  - Karen M.

A friend in choir came to practice in a thumb brace and after she told me about her troubles, I lent her my Sergio Lub bracelet. She texted me the following day to say that not only had her thumb stopped hurting, but she had already ordered her own.
  - Allie M. 

I bought one of your bracelets from our bookstore. I was having a nerve problem in my wrist and it disappeared after two hours of wearing it! Now I'm telling everyone to get one.
  - Holly W.

I first did not believe in copper bracelets but my knuckles were inflamed as large as golf balls so I tried wearing a Sergio Lub.  I am happy to report that my pain went away in three days and the inflammation in a couple of months. I wear two bracelets now.
  - John P. 

I purchased my copper and magnet bracelet with reservation about two years ago. I was experiencing constant lower back pain and I was told by the store owner about the positive affects of copper and magnets. I have been suffering with back pain and ankle swelling for over ten years starting at age 22. I was open and willing to try new methods of ridding this pain, so I purchased a bracelet. After about three weeks, the pain ceased and I was able to get out of bed easily, bend and walk and exercise without pain! I continued to be pain free for two years. I won't go another day without wearing one.
  - Alana A.

I have arthritis, and after wearing Sergio Lub, I was able to close my hand. I have not taken them off my wrists since purchasing them. Also, the second one I purchased was for a pain I had in my left top thigh and after having the bracelet on for a period of time the pain never came back.
  - Norma