From Copper to Charm: How Hand-Painted Enamel Jewellery Is Made

Ever wondered what goes into that tiny, beautifully painted charm? Here's the full story.

Behind every hand-painted enamel charm is a quiet, focused process — one that hasn't changed much in centuries, and that's exactly the point. Let's take you through it, step by step.

What Is Enamel?

Enamel is the art of fusing powdered glass onto a metal surface through heat. The technique dates back to ancient Egypt and Byzantium, and has since evolved into dozens of regional styles and methods across the world. Our charms use hand-painted copper enamel — a copper base, hand-illustrated motifs, and kiln-fired colour that bonds permanently to the metal.

The Making Process

Step 1: Shaping the Copper Base

Each charm begins as a sheet of copper, pressed or hand-formed into shape — round, oval, heart, star, square. The shape itself is a design decision: different silhouettes carry different moods.

Step 2: Base Glaze Application

A layer of base enamel glaze is applied to the copper surface and fired at high temperature. This creates a smooth, stable foundation for the hand-painting that follows.

Step 3: Hand Painting

This is where the skill lives. Using fine brushes and coloured enamel glazes, the maker paints each motif by hand — the texture of a strawberry, the curve of a tulip petal, the ribbon on a ballet shoe. Every stroke requires a steady hand and complete focus. On a 20mm surface, there is no room for error — and no two pieces will ever be identical.

Step 4: Kiln Firing

Once painted, the charm goes into the kiln. At high temperature, the enamel glazes melt and fuse with the copper base — locking in the colour permanently. The result is vivid, glass-smooth, and built to last.

Step 5: Jump Ring Assembly

Finally, a silver jump ring is attached to the top of the charm — ready to thread onto a chain, clip onto a hair pin, or attach to a keyring. The charm is complete.

Why Every Piece Is Slightly Different

Because every step is done by hand.

Hand-painting means that brushstroke weight, colour depth, and fine details will vary subtly from piece to piece. This isn't a flaw — it's the signature of handmade work. When you receive a charm, you're receiving the only one exactly like it in the world.

Why Copper & Enamel?

• Copper — malleable, durable, and the traditional base material for enamel work across cultures
• Enamel glaze — glass-based, colour-fast, and resistant to fading or chipping with normal wear
• Weight — just 3g per charm, light enough to wear all day without noticing

A Craft Worth Slowing Down For

In a world that rewards speed, hand-painted enamel is a quiet act of resistance. Each charm takes time — to shape, to paint, to fire, to finish. That time is what you're holding when you pick one up.

👉 Explore our hand-painted enamel charm collection and find the one made for you.