by Jesús Zabala - 4 min read

How to Seal Brass Jewelry

Sealing is one of the most important processes in brass jewelry making. Since one, and probably the biggest disadvantage, of brass jewelry is tarnishing, we preserve its shine by sealing the pieces. If you are curious to find out how to seal brass jewelry, you are in the right place.

We will explain the process of making brass jewelry more durable by acting as a layer of protection from air, moisture, and exposure to other elements that might deteriorate or damage it over time. Let us take you through the typical process of sealing brass.

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Understanding the Importance of Sealing Brass Jewelry

Brass jewelry is a common choice for jewelry lovers because its warm, golden hue adds a touch of elegance to an outfit. However, brass is not all about aesthetic appeal. As part of the copper alloy list, brass is highly affordable and can be easily shaped, resulting in versatile designs available for purchase.

Despite all its advantages, brass's metal composition makes it prone to tarnishing and fading. This typically happens when brass jewelry is exposed to air, moisture, and skin oils. Also, brass jewelry might start to oxidize with time and change color.

When we create our brass jewelry, we seal it for several reasons. For one, sealing jewelry generally prolongs longevity. The sealing protects the delicate pieces from wear and tear, especially from scratches, environmental factors, and oxidation.

The seal creates a barrier between common factors that cause brass jewelry to tarnish. There is no guarantee the sealing process will completely prevent tarnishing, but it will most certainly slow the process down, keeping the jewelry shiny as brand new, even for a while.

Ultimately, sealing jewelry is recommended for metals that cause skin irritations and discolorations. When we seal brass jewelry, the likelihood of having tarnish-related skin discoloration is reduced as the sealant acts like a barrier between your skin and the metal. Bear in mind that the sealing can wear off and requires regular sealant reapplication.

How to Seal Brass Jewelry?

The steps on how to coat brass jewelry with a sealing agent are straightforward and include:

Preparing the workspace
Cleaning the brass jewelry
Applying the sealing agent
Allowing the sealing agent to cure
Inspecting and touching up
Final cleaning and polishing

Preparing the workplace

The first step in how to seal brass jewelry is preparing the workspace. Before we start with anything, we ensure the working area is clean.

We organize the working area so everything is within arms reach. Speaking of equipment, the essentials for sealing brass jewelry are gloves, masks, sealing agents, application tools, and cleaning supplies.

Preparing the workplace for sealing brass

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Cleaning brass jewelry

The brass jewelry must be cleaned thoroughly so the sealant can adhere properly. Firstly, we clean the brass jewelry with mild soap and warm water. If the jewelry finish isn’t smooth, we tend to use a soft brush to gently scrub the surface. Our goal with this step is to ensure the jewelry doesn’t have any dirt, tarnish, oils, or other debris.

Choosing and applying the sealing agent

When we are choosing a sealing agent, we consider several factors. The first, and most important one is that it is high-quality and suitable for brass. Next, it is highly important for us to use non-toxic and hypoallergenic sealants that will prevent skin irritations. Ultimately, we consider the type of sealant that is most suitable and easy to apply according to the jewelry design.

The applying process of the sealing agent will be determined according to the type used. Commonly used metal sealant types include:

Spray-on jewelry sealants
Coating
Wax
Form of nail polish
Lacquer

As the name suggests, spray-on sealants need to be sprayed on the jewelry pieces. We highly recommend using them outside or in a well-ventilated room and also wearing a mask to avoid inhaling the spray-on.

One of the most famous coatings for jewelry is the ProtectaClear. To apply it, you can either dip the jewelry in the solution, brush it directly on the piece, or wipe the solution on the jewelry piece.

Allowing the sealing agent to cure

We recommend leaving the sealing agent to cure in a well-ventilated area without dirt. The amount of time it will take to cure depends on two main factors: the type used and the thickness of the coat.

For instance, some sealing agents cure fast, and your jewelry will be ready for wearing within a few hours. On the other hand, thicker layers and certain sealants might need a few days to dry completely.

Inspecting and touching up

Once it is cured, we inspect the brass jewelry under good lighting. This step is crucial as we look for and fix all imperfections, such as missed spots, uneven coverage, or bubbles, that might influence the effectiveness of the sealant coating.

Final cleaning and polishing

Finally, we clean and polish the brass jewelry to enhance its appearance. There are various ways to clean brass jewelry, such as using mild soap and warm water or a special jewelry cleaning agent. As for the polishing, we typically use a jewelry polishing cloth to give brass jewelry its shine.

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Conclusion

Sealing jewelry is essential for preserving its shine, prolonging its lifespan, and minimizing tarnishing. The steps on how to seal brass jewelry start with preparing the workplace and cleaning the brass jewelry and continue with sealant application, giving it time to cure and adding some final touches.