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Before investing in a copper, bronze, or brass sink, it’s important to understand their shared characteristics. Each metal develops a unique patina, reacts to elements over time, and requires little care to maintain its beauty. Knowing these traits will help you appreciate and enjoy your sink for years to come.
We exclusively use domestic 14-gauge cold-rolled copper, which is eight times stronger than the annealed copper found in imported sinks. This durability prevents denting during use and ensures the sink remains perfectly true to the dimensions specified in your design. You can trust your sink will arrive precisely as ordered, without deformation from shipping.
Also... Pet friendly!
What you see is our 22 year old copper sink. Maintaining your copper sink’s beauty is easy—simply rinse after use and avoid leaving items in the basin. While items left in the sink may temporarily affect the patina, this natural patina is designed to evolve over time, telling a unique story through its subtle changes. The patina’s transformation adds character, enhancing the sink's distinct and beautiful look.
" I love your sinks because they are EASY to take care of (yes- I am lazy). I used to have a stainless steel sink in my kitchen and the smudge marks used to drive me crazy. I really don't do much to keep my sinks looking beautiful now- I simply rinse them out with soap and water while washing my dishes. Nothing else!!!!" Jessie
"Paint" with ketchup and a paintbrush, and the patina temporarily vanishes. The sink will re-patina over the next several days simply by using the sink. The speed at which the sink will re-patina has a bit to do with how much you use the sink and what type of water you have. The more minerals in the water, the faster it will change. You truly cannot permanently damage the interior of our copper sinks. Photos sent in by Linda White. (See her email below.)
Our copper sinks are crafted to combine beauty with exceptional functionality. Each sink includes an option for a ledge designed to support a half-sheet pan, freeing up valuable counter space during meal prep. With this feature, your countertops may feel almost obsolete—just give them a quick dusting and let your sink handle the heavy lifting
Even a deliberate, deep cut in the bowl of our copper sink virtually disappeared within weeks. The middle photo shows the sink after just two weeks; the bottom, after four. While the cut technically remains, copper’s natural "self-healing" patina acts as an elegant camouflage—blending imperfections into a rich, evolving finish. There’s simply nothing to worry about.
I tested this in our working showroom sink. After the patina settled, I challenged visitors: if they could point out the cut—without using their fingernail to feel for it—the sink would be free. No one ever won.
At my request, Linda sent an email to a new Rachiele® copper sink owner who had recently expressed concern about marks appearing in her sink. I had just finished speaking with her and sensed that hearing directly from someone with years of firsthand experience would offer far more meaningful reassurance than anything I could provide.
"Dino Rachiele forwarded an email you'd written regarding your new sink and asked if I would contact you. I purchased two copper sinks and have been using them daily since 2012.
I read your email and saw the picture that you'd sent Dino and wanted to share my thoughts. The first thing I thought when I saw the picture was that your sink looked brand new and hasn't had a chance to develop the patina that will come with use. When my sinks first arrived, like yours, they were a uniform color. When I first started using them, the very first marks (reactions to the copper) stood out in stark relief against that uniform color. They were very noticeable, and your eye can't help but go right to them. You said in your email that you aren't even using the sink like you will be once you're cooking and entertaining. Once you start really using it, the sink will have a lovely, varied finish. You won't have that one mark that stands out like you do now.
The beauty of the sinks really comes out as you have lots and lots of marks that are made and then fade and change. You'll have layers of overlapping reactions that will create a gorgeous patina.
Best of luck and enjoy your new kitchen!
Linda White"
Copper is not only stunning but also highly functional in the kitchen. Thanks to its excellent heat conductivity, copper can speed up the thawing process—just place frozen food directly on the surface and watch it defrost quickly. In this comparison test, ice melted in just 6 minutes on the copper versus 46 minutes on stainless steel! Beyond heat conduction, copper boasts impressive antimicrobial properties, naturally reducing bacteria on its surface. This makes it an ideal choice for a hygienic, efficient, and beautiful kitchen workspace
At less than a year old, this imported copper sink has already lost its beauty due to its unnatural finish. Unlike naturally weathered copper, which develops a rich patina over time, these sinks often discolor permanently from water pooling, especially with flat bottoms. Copper naturally ages to a beautiful, old-penny color, but many imports require drying after each use to prevent unsightly blemishes. Our sinks are designed to avoid these issues, ensuring a durable, authentic patina that enhances their beauty with time
Hammering adds a captivating, artisanal beauty to each sink, creating a rich texture that catches and reflects light in unique ways. This hand-hammered finish brings out copper’s natural warmth, giving the sink a distinctive character that enhances any kitchen style. Each mark tells a story of skilled craftsmanship, adding depth and individuality to the sink’s appearance. For those who value both aesthetic and authenticity, the hand-hammered look offers a timeless elegance that transforms a functional piece into a true centerpiece.
The Aftermath...
Being Italian, we eat our salad last. After a large dinner, our well-meaning guests kindly helped load the dishwasher—but didn’t rinse the sink. Bits of salad and vinegar were left behind for several hours.
Most of our customers actually love this—by the next day, their sink would display stunning new patterns in the patina. I, on the other hand, tend to prefer a more uniform look. So I occasionally strip most of the bottom patina, just to show how effortlessly it can be renewed. It's part of the beauty of copper: a living finish that evolves—or resets—on your terms.
To refresh the patina, I simply use the sponge shown in the photo—Scotch-Brite side down—and scrub the bottom of the sink using only warm water. Within minutes, most of the patina lifts away. You may notice some fine scratches at first, but by the following day, they’re typically all but invisible as the copper begins to re-patina naturally.
Important: I recommend removing only the patina on the bottom of the sink. The sides don’t receive enough daily contact to regenerate quickly, and attempting to strip them may result in uneven coloration that lingers. Let the sides age gracefully—while the base remains easy to refresh as needed.
Watch How Effortless It Is.
This video shows just how simple it is to refresh the bottom of one of our copper sinks using a Scotch-Brite pad. It took me only 60 seconds in our 24" sink.
For many new Rachiele® copper sink owners, the first few months can feel like uncharted territory—they often treat the sink with delicate caution. But once they begin using it freely and see how remarkably resilient it is, confidence grows. That shift changes everything. They stop worrying, start enjoying, and come to appreciate what this sink truly is: a hardworking showpiece that gets even more beautiful with time. See the use and care section of our website here.
Restore Your Copper’s Natural Beauty
If your copper sink’s patina ever needs a refresh—whether from an overly enthusiastic cleaning or a well-meaning gift of polish—rest assured, restoration is simple and remarkably effective.
Click below to download our step-by-step guide, where we walk you through the exact process we use in our own shop. With just a few basic materials, you can bring your sink back to its original elegance. A copper sink that requires little maintenance should be the color of an old penny. If it is another color, you are dealing with an artificial finish that requires intense maintenance such as drying after each use, no abrasives, and an eventual significant color variation between the sides and the bottom of the bowl.
This is a truly organic method—unlike anything you’ll find with mass-produced imports. While the process may take anywhere from an hour to most of the day depending on weather conditions, it’s not labor-intensive. It’s a gentle rhythm: a few minutes of vinegar application, followed by drying time—repeated until the rich, natural patina is fully restored.
No stress. No special tools. Just copper, returning to its timeless beauty—exactly as it was meant to be.
Restore the Patina of Your Rachiele® Custom Sink (pdf)
DownloadThis is an older video, however, it does highlight some of the vast differences between our copper sinks and sinks you might find elsewhere.
Two Very Different Types of Pure Copper
Annealed and cold-rolled copper are two different types of copper with distinct properties and uses. Annealed copper has a reddish-brown color and a slightly rough texture, while cold-rolled copper has a smoother surface and a more uniform color.
Annealed copper has been heated to a high temperature and then allowed to cool slowly. This process makes the copper soft and malleable, which means it can be easily shaped and formed. Annealed copper is often used in electrical wiring and electronics, as it can be easily bent and twisted to fit into tight spaces. This is the type of copper the vast majority of, if not all, imported copper sinks are made of.
On the other hand, cold-rolled copper has been rolled through a series of rollers while it is at or below room temperature. This process makes the copper stronger and harder, but also less malleable than annealed copper. Cold-rolled copper is often used in applications where strength and durability are important. We use only cold rolled pure domestic copper! This is just one way we ensure our sinks will stand the test of time.
Zero-radius sinks are often seen as tough to clean, but we’ve solved that! Our advanced welding creates smooth, seamless corners, so food particles won’t get trapped, making cleanup a breeze.
Rachiele Custom Sinks
2360 Clark Street Suite E Apopka, FL 32703 Email - Office@Rachiele.com
407-880-6903 Office - 407-576-8581 Cell