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Brass

· 1 min read · Materials

Stacked brass ingots

Brass is a golden-yellow alloy of copper and zinc that imitates gold at a fraction of the price. It is one of the most used metals in costume and handmade jewelry, and also the base for pieces that later receive a gold or other metal plating.

Properties #

  • Composition: copper (around 60-70%) and zinc (30-40%); more zinc gives a paler tone.
  • Color: bright golden yellow, from reddish to greenish yellow depending on the ratio.
  • Melting point: roughly 900 to 940 °C.
  • Hardness: harder than copper, easy to file, bend and solder.
  • Reaction to air: it tarnishes and forms a brown or greenish patina.

Uses in jewelry #

  • Costume and fashion jewelry.
  • Wire, sheet, chain and findings for handmade jewelry.
  • Base for gold, silver or rhodium plating.
  • Pieces with an aged or patinated finish.

Pros and cons #

Advantages #

  • Inexpensive, with a golden look.
  • Very easy to work with jewelry tools.
  • More corrosion-resistant than copper.

Limitations #

  • It tarnishes over time.
  • It can turn skin green.
  • Some alloys contain lead or nickel, so choose jewelry-grade brass.

Care and cleaning #

  • Dry it and keep it away from perfume, chlorine and salt water.
  • Wash with lukewarm water and mild soap; for stains use lemon with salt or a metal polish.
  • Lacquering or sealing with a clear coat keeps the shine longer.
  • See the full guide to brass care and cleaning.

See also #

This entry was drafted with the help of AI and is pending review by the author.