Brass is the most specified metal in our showrooms, and the one clients ask about most. The finish matters far more than the brand.
Unlacquered brass
Unlacquered brass is raw metal with nothing over the top. It starts bright and darkens in the areas you touch, which is usually the handle and the spout. Within a year it settles into a warm, uneven bronze. Many clients come in wanting polished brass and leave wanting this.
It can be polished back at any point with a cloth and a mild brass cleaner, so the change is never permanent.
Brushed, PVD and lacquered finishes
A brushed finish with a PVD coating holds its tone almost exactly. It suits hard-water areas and busy family bathrooms, and it is the safer choice if you want the room to look identical in five years' time. The trade-off is that it lacks the depth of raw metal.
Living with it
Whichever you choose, keep it dry where you can and avoid abrasive cleaners entirely. We supply a care card with every brassware order, and we will replace cartridges years later if a tap starts to drip.