Copper Yin Yang Double Ring Bangle

Two rings locked together, and the bracelet takes its meaning from qian and kun. Qian is heaven, kun is earth. In the Book of Changes the two hexagrams stand at the head of the sequence, one pure yang and one pure yin, complete only when taken together. The form is not new. Old silver and copper bracelets already used linked rings, the pair joined by a clasp that moved. The old name for it was lianhuan, linked rings, for the sense of something running on without a break, and the double-ring pieces sold today work on the same idea.

Copper, in two colours. Brass runs warm and ages toward deep brown; white copper runs cool and greys as it dulls. The two rings are not the same gauge, one leading and one following, and they meet at a single clasp, so once on the wrist they drift apart and settle on opposite sides. The clasp opens and closes, which means you fasten it first and turn the bracelet into place. The metals differ slightly in hardness: white copper resists wear better, brass takes a patina sooner. White copper looks close to silver without being silver, so do not confuse the two when buying.

The double ring has a practical advantage. When the wrist moves, no single loop takes the whole load; the rings give way to each other, so no line is pressed into the wrist bone over months of wear. It has a drawback as well, in that the seam where the rings meet catches fine hair, which matters if your arms are hairy. Rest your wrist on a desk edge to type and the pair rides up, so sit it further back. The opening cannot be pinched the way an open bangle can. Measure the widest part of the wrist first and leave a finger's worth of room. Two rings together carry real weight, and anyone used to a light bangle should expect that.

Copper oxidises. That is what copper does, and it is not a fault. Wipe it dry when you take it off and store it in a bag with the air pressed out, which slows the process. Once it has dulled, work a little copper polish into it with a soft cloth, always in one direction; circular rubbing leaves marks that show in raking light. Keep polish out of the clasp seam, because once it collects there it is hard to clear. Do not hang the bracelet in a damp room. Verdigris, once started, comes back after you wipe it away.

A half-open bracelet like this forgives a good deal. On a slim wrist it slides down until the base of the hand stops it, and it stays out of the way while you work. With short sleeves the two rings give more layering than a single loop; under long sleeves it hides at the cuff and shows half at a time. Worn on the same arm as a watch the two will fight, so split them between hands. In summer sweat, copper leaves a faint green mark on skin that washes off. It holds its own against a crew neck or a V; a square neck is harder to carry.