Brass:

 

Some jewellery I make is made with Brass. I use this to provide gold-coloured jewellery that is less expensive than gold. 

 

Brass is as yellow alloy of zinc. Resembling a gold colour. I wax all my brass pieces. However all metals will naturally tarnish, giving your piece an aged look. 

 

The copper in the brass can cause greening on the skin, this is a common reaction between your skin and the metal. It will wash off or fade. 

 

To bring back shine you can always use a polishing cloth for jewellery.

 

 

Gold-filled:

 

For certain elements I can use Gold-filled. Gold-filled is composed of a solid layer of gold mechanically bonded to a base of either sterling silver or some base metal. The metal is easy to care for and will usually maintain its golden shine for a lifetime. 

I always mention which elements are made in Gold-filled or Brass.