Brass plated

Surface finish

Brass plating gives hardware a warm, brass-toned gold look. The thin layer wears at contact points over time. Browse our brass-plated hardware in the range.

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Products: Brass plated, Zippers

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How brass plating is made

Electroplating with brass: the golden tone of brass over an affordable base (steel, zinc alloy). There's usually a nickel underlayer beneath the brass.

What it gives the product

A warm brass look without the cost of solid brass.

When to choose it and when not to

Decorative elements and products used indoors. The layer is thin: it wears through at contact points and doesn't take well to damp. For load and moisture, choose solid brass instead.

How it ages

Wear points (a buckle tongue, a snap hook eye) lighten to the base metal over time; the rest holds its tone for a long while.

What it pairs with

Brown leather and vintage products; the full-value alternative is solid brass.

  • Look

    Gold

    Warm golden tone, from pale yellow to deep gold. Pairs particularly well with brown leather and straps in warm colours.

  • Abrasion resistance

    Low

    Thin decorative coating that gradually wears through with regular wear and friction. Wear appears first where a buckle or snap contacts the strap, ring or fur.

  • Corrosion protection

    Dry conditions

    Provides a temporary barrier against moisture. Works well in dry environments, but protection weakens over time with regular contact with water or sweat.

  • Nickel

    Yes, in interlayer

    Nickel is present in an intermediate layer rather than at the surface. If the top layer wears through, nickel may become exposed and come into contact with skin.

    Nickel release test (abrasion method PN 93 0021, AZL Otrokovice testing laboratory): pass, within the limit of 0.5 µg/cm² per week used by EU regulation. test report (PDF, in Czech)

Damp conditions Occasional rain Tolerates occasional contact with rain, wet grass or damp hands. Regular soaking accelerates visible wear, so dry the surface after it becomes wet.
Aging Wear at contact points At points of regular friction (typically the buckle edge, snap contact point or strap) the finish gradually wears through and the base material shows beneath.
Process Galvanic Metal layer applied by electric current in a bath. An even, thin and well-adhered coating: the most widespread method for surface finishing of metal parts.