Which Bronze Finish is Right for You?

Oil Rubbed Bronze is quickly becoming one of the most popular finishes on the market. The clean modern look of Oil Rubbed Bronze brings this timeless metal into the new age.

The dark, sumptuous Oil Rubbed finish adds a subtle and alluring quality to the elegant bronze designs while near universal color matching allows Oil Rubbed bronze to be used in nearly any project. If you are looking to add the enduring beauty and durability of bronze to your home Oil Rubbed may be the perfect finish for you.

Achieving the Oil Rubbed finish is a multi-step process. After the raw bronze is hand poured and cooled in a specialized foundry it is carefully checked for imperfections. Only the best quality pieces make it into the Saint-Gaudens product line. Once the perfect pieces are selected they undergo a bronze-specific chemical bath to darken the outermost layer of metal (imparting that deep chocolate brown color). The pieces are then removed from the chemical bath and thoroughly washed to end the darkening process. Once dried, each piece is polished by hand to bring out the signature subtle bright highlights. Oil rubbed bronze tile by Saint-Gaudens are truly something to behold.

The finish that started it all. Classic Bronze is still the most popular choice for bronze tiles, bronze liners, and bronze trim.

The beauty of the Classic finish is matched only by its agelessness. If timeless elegance is what you’re after Classic Bronze finish may be for you.

Like the Oil Rubbed finish the Classic Bronze finish is a multi-step process. Raw bronze undergoes a bronze-specific chemical bath to darken the entire piece. Unlike the Oil-Rubbed finish however the polishing process for the Classic finish is quite extensive. Once dry, each Classic finish piece undergoes up to 3 separate rounds of polishing. The bronze expertise gained over the years by Saint-Gaudens employees allows us to approach each tile, liner or trim individually and apply only the most appropriate finishing techniques for your order. No matter which tile you decide on the Classic finish will bring out the true beauty of your bronze.

The Silvertone finish adds a whole new realm of possibility for lovers of bronze! Silvertone bronze offers the same undisputed durability and beauty of Classic bronze in a sleek silver color. Additionally, all Silvertone bronze products are nearly impervious to natural aging due to the metallurgy so will look new years after you order them! The Silvertone finish brings all new design possibility to those looking for solid metal accents for their home.

Silvertone bronze is nearly identical in the finishing process to Classic bronze. The real difference in the two options is the metal itself. Silvertone bronze is made with the metal Nickle to give it a beautiful shiny silver luster (As opposed to Silicon in Classic bronze). Nickle Bronze as it’s often referred to is nearly identical to Classic bronze with the notable exception that it does not naturally patina with age the way that Classic bronze does (see the FAQ page for information on natural aging and how to easily refinish Classic Bronze). While most of our customers find the natural patina of Classic bronze quite pleasing those that want their bronze to look brand new for years often choose Silvertone as their finish of choice.

Do you want your accents to really “POP”? The Bronze Bright or Silver Bright finishes may be just what you’re looking for!

Bright finishes are perfect for those people who want bronze tiles or liners that create immediate and noticeable aesthetic impact. After all, sometimes it’s the finishing touches that really complete a space.

Bronze Bright and Silver Bright undergo the same rigorous finishing process as their darkened siblings but without the chemical bath. Taking raw Classic or Silvertone bronze through the polishing process without first chemically darkening them allows us to achieve a remarkably lustrous finish. Each piece is hand-polished until it shines and then sealed to preserve that beautiful sparkle.