making shiny metals look vintage

[semajrn]

What can be used to darken metal that is NOT real gold, silver, copper, or brass? I am using a magnetic clasp that  I purchased online, which looks like a shiny gold, but, of course is not! I would like to dull down the shine so that it is appropriate with the vintage look of the bracelet. It would be OK to blacken it, or make it anything darker that the high shine of gold that it is now.

[notatriplet]

Hi semajrn,

I remembered reading a couple of threads that addressed this very question.  Just follow these links:

http://www.rings-things.com/forum/index.php/topic,4334.msg32303.html#msg32303

http://www.rings-things.com/forum/index.php/topic,501.msg1659/topicseen.html#msg1659

In short, as with many crafty processes--experimentation is key.

Another option is to purchase already antiqued findings--Rings & Things offers both antiqued-copper and antiqued-brass versions:


https://shop.rings-things.com/cart/pc/showsearchresultsCustom.asp?pageStyle=M&resultCnt=10&keyword=antiqued+copper+magnetic+clasp&submit=Go+%3E%3E

and


https://shop.rings-things.com/cart/pc/showsearchresultsCustom.asp?pageStyle=M&resultCnt=10&keyword=antiqued+brass+magnetic+clasp&submit=Go+%3E%3E

[Metalman]

I have picked up - at the gun shop, bluing for steel. This is a nasty chemical but it works great for patinas on a wide range of materials - you would have to test it on your material to see. Not dangerous to you - go slow on your metal - can be corrosive.