SwissMaterials
Brass
An alloy of copper and zinc, warm and heavy, the traditional choice on Swiss letterboxes and lawyers’ doors. It is the only one of our materials that keeps changing after you hang it.
How it ages in Switzerland
Left bare, brass oxidises. In the first months it loses its factory shine, then settles over two to three years into a deep bronze with darker recesses. Many owners want exactly this; others polish it back twice a year. Lacquering freezes the colour, but the film eventually fails under alpine UV — usually five to eight years at altitude, longer on a shaded north wall. Frost itself is harmless: brass has no rust chemistry. Road salt is the real enemy, so a plaque within splashing distance of a gritted street will pit faster than one on a garden gate.
Technical data
| Thickness | 1.5 mm and 2 mm |
| Finish | Polished, brushed or antique |
| Outdoor life | 15–30 years outdoors |
| Engraving | Rotary engraving, filled black or left bare |
Best for
- ✓Letterbox and doorbell plates on older buildings
- ✓Law firms, notaries, medical practices
- ✓Chalet and family name signs
Think twice if you want a colour that never moves, or the plaque sits at the kerb of a road that gets gritted all winter.
Questions
Can I stop brass from darkening?
Yes, with lacquer — but plan to have it stripped and redone once the film crazes, typically after five to eight years of sun. Unlacquered brass asks for a polish twice a year and nothing else.
Does brass work for a modern building?
It reads as traditional. On contemporary architecture, brushed stainless steel usually sits better, and the engraving contrast is sharper.
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