What to expect from
EDWIN Antique Brass Unlacquered
EDWIN is finished in antique brass, unlacquered. There’s no protective coating, so the finish responds to the way you use it. The touch points will gradually lighten to a warm, golden satin brass, while the rest of the fitting stays deep and dark. This is how the finish is designed to behave, and it’s what gives each piece its character.
What you'll see
Day one
Your hardware arrives with a rich, dark antique brass tone, applied through a controlled manufacturing process.
First few months
Every time the hardware is handled, the oils and friction from your hands begin to polish the surface. On a lever handle, the grip is usually the first place to change.
Over the years
Lightened touch points settle into a soft, warm glow. Recesses, edges and untouched areas keep their depth, and the contrast between the two becomes part of the look.
Where it changes first
The more a fitting is handled, the faster it changes. No two EDWIN installations will look the same, because each one reflects how its building is used.
Lever handles and door knobs
The grip and the surfaces your hand returns to every day
Door knockers
The striking point and where your hand connects with the knocker
Letter plates
Letter plates as you press to open and post items through
Cylinder pulls
The inner edge where fingers make contact
Hinges
Very little, as they are rarely touched
EDWIN
Why it's designed this way
Most brass hardware is lacquered at the factory to hold one fixed appearance. EDWIN is left unlacquered, so the brass can wear in naturally. Because it’s solid recycled brass all the way through, there is no plating to wear through. Whatever shows at the touch points is brass.
It’s the same wear you see on well-loved heritage doors, which is why it suits period properties so well.
Caring for your EDWIN hardware
EDWIN needs very little looking after.
- Everyday care: wipe with a soft, dry or slightly damp cloth. Mild soap and water is fine if needed.
- Avoid: metal polish, abrasive pads and acidic or harsh cleaners. These strip the finish and can leave uneven patches.
- No maintenance is required. The lightening isn’t wear to be fixed. It’s the finish doing what it’s meant to do.
If you’d prefer a brighter finish: polishing will bring the brass back to a bright, golden tone, but it won’t restore the original dark finish. The brass will then start to age again from that point.
Questions?
Contact the Coastal Group team on 01726 871 025 or drop us an email or visit the EDWIN collection to see and shop the range.
FAQs
Antique Brass Customer FAQs
Lighter areas typically develop on the parts of the hardware that are touched most often. The natural oils from your hands gently polish the surface over time, gradually revealing brighter highlights. This is characteristic of licing brass and contributes to its unique appearance.
This is completely normal. Our antique brass finish is a living finish applied to solid brass. Over time, exposure to air, moisture and everyday use caturally causes the finish to deepen in colour and develop additional character. The ageing process is an intentional feature of the finish, not a defect.
Natural variation is expected with antique brass. Different areas of the product are exposed to different conditions such as
- Touch & handling
- Moisture & humidity
- Sunlight
- Airflow & environmental exposure
These factors can cause some areas to darken faster than others, creating the authentic aged appearance associated with traditional brass hardware.
Dark spots are usually part of the natural patination process. As brass reacts with its environment, a protective patina forms on the surface. This can create variations in tone, colour and depth, all of which are normal characteristics of an ageing brass finish.
Yes. Photography on the website shows the product at a specific point in its life. Once installed, antique brass will continue to evolve and develop its own charactere based on its environment and use. No two pieces will age exactly the same way.
Yes. Because antique brass is a hand-applied finish, slight variations may be present from the outset. Once installed, each piece will continue to age according to its individual environment and level of use. This individuality is one of the key features of authentic brass hardware.
In most cases, no. Unlike painted, coated or lacquered finishes, antique brass is designed to evolve through use. Frequently handled areas may become lighter and develop a gentle sheen, while recessed areas remain darker. This natural ageing process enhances the character of the finish rather than indicating a failure.
Yes. Antique brass is designed to continue ageing throughout its lifetime. The rate of change will vary depending on factors such as:
- Location
- Humidity
- Sunlight
- Coastal exposure
- Frequency of use
Yes. Coastal environments generally accelerate the natural ageing process due to increased moisture and salt in the air. This is expected and often results in a richer, more developed patina over time.
For routine cleaning:
- Use a soft cloth and warm soapy water
- Rinse if required
- Dry thoroughly after use.
Avoid abrasive pads, harsh chemicals and aggressive cleaning products as these may damage the finish.
Not completely. The natural evolution of antique brass is part of the design. However, regular cleaning and the occastional application of a suitable microcrystalline wax can help slow the ageing process.
Yes. If you prefer a brighter look, a suitable non-abrasive brass polish can be used to gently reduce the patina and restore some of the original brightness.
Please note that polishing may remove some of the aged character that develops over time.
Natural ageing, colour variation, patina development, highlighting of touch points and environmental changes are all expected characteristics of antique brass and are therefore not considered manufacturing defects.
If you are concerned that your product may have an issue beyond normal ageing, please contact our Customer Service team who will be happy to help.
Premium precision-made forged brass hardware
EDWIN
Antique brass is designed to age gracefully. Darkening, highlights, tonal variation and patina development are all natural characteristics of this living finish, creating a unique appearance that reflects its environment and use over time.