Old rose ox

Well, of cause I had to buy jewellery componants with such a pretty name as old rose ox. The shop describes the finish (a plating on brass) as "a TRUE DESIGNER finish featured at B'sue Boutiques. It's not at all your typical Copper Ox, though our copper ox jumps, headpins/eyepins, and chain will work with it. Pure copper or copper plate findings will also blend with this lush pinky-rose copper finish with a delicate hint of antique, buffed out to a shine!"

Can a copper -- and brass -- junkie resist that? Especially when the shop in question sells a lot of metal flowers? Of cause not!


Lovely shiny copper colour with just the right amount of antiqueing to enhance the details and give the pieces depth. And how does it compare to other copper-platings and antiqued copper? Below is a oh-so-hard-to-photograph sampler for comparison.


The rose and dapped filigree in the centre is old rose ox. The branch below is from this post -- as with the setting next to it it's heat-treated brass that has taken on copper hues. Closest thing I have to red brass (rödmetall). To continue clockwise: two lacquered solid copper beads with oxidized details: matt antiqued copper-plate fish clasp, TierraCast Antique Copper (plating, a lovely dark shine) leaf and flower, bright copper-plate toggle clasp, non-tarnish treated solid copper chain, TierraCast floral bead, matte light copper-plate filigree beads, TierraCast (I think) cat charm, copper ox brass cat charm, antiqued copper-plate and -- to finish it off -- vintage cat stamping with natural "gingerbread patina"

Of cause all sorts of copper mix well with other metals, but I still wanted to show a few examples I tried. Please not I chose the pieces because of their colours, not to be actually used with the rose.
Trickiest combo, and also the toughest to capture with the camera, but I do think russian goldplate (as well as yellow brass) could work. Proportions are probably the key here. Besides, I love russian goldplate. Will probably write more about that finish soon.


I've met American beaders that used to be pretty snobby when it came to pewter, but not least in Scandinavia, pewter has had quite a tradition and I have some lovely artisan pewter/tin jewellery. This is a rather cool finding -- to see the clever back, check out this post. Anyway, unplated pewter has a very attractive grey colour with just the right amount of shine. In this case I'd say pewter isn't the best combo, but still a nice and neutral choice.


The easiest option is of cause black or a dark gunmetal/black nickel. Dramatic, though sometimes a tad too hard, it's a colour that many will like. Not least useful if you want to introduce a third colour or more as black will go with everything. More or less. So: very nice and versatile, but for some maybe a forumla 1A choice.


Finally, I wanted to show a softer alternative to black. The browns in this patina -- Vintaj brass of cause -- works well with the antiqueing, but isn't as hard as black can be. Think of it as using brown mascara instead of black, gives sort of the same effect but softer. As the patina is more matte than the buffed old rose ox, it works especially well as a neutral background. The shiner metal will always stand out paired with something matte so the brown brass should be thought of as background only when designing.