A practical guide to wear, patina, and letting the piece age properly
Brass is the core material behind most Omen markers for a reason. It has weight, warmth, and character, and unlike plated or coated metals, it doesn’t pretend to stay perfect forever.
Brass changes with time. That isn’t a flaw. It’s the point.
This guide covers how to care for your marker in a way that respects the material, keeps it functional, and lets it develop character rather than stripping it back to something sterile.
Brass: What “Normal” Looks Like
Bare brass will naturally darken, mellow, and shift in tone as it’s handled. Oils from your hands, moisture, air exposure, and friction from pockets all play a role.
Over time you may notice:
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The surface becoming warmer or more golden
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Subtle darkening in recessed areas
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Brighter highlights on raised edges from handling
None of this needs to be “fixed” unless you want to.
If you like the way your marker looks today, do nothing. That’s a valid choice.
Gently Bringing Brass Back (If You Want To)
If your marker starts to feel too warm or gold and you’d prefer to bring it back closer to its original tone, keep it simple.
A mild vinegar and water mix is more than enough.
How to do it:
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Mix white vinegar and warm water at roughly 1:4
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Lightly dampen a soft cloth (do not soak the marker)
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Gently wipe the brass surface
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Rinse with clean water and dry immediately
This will lift surface tarnish without aggressively stripping the metal.
Avoid metal polishes or abrasive compounds. They work, but they flatten detail and remove more material than necessary.
Blackened or Patina Fields
Some Omen pieces use intentionally darkened or blackened fields to create contrast and depth.
These areas are not designed to stay jet black forever. With handling, you may see:
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Softening of the black
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Subtle highlights emerging on high points
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A more natural, worn-in look
That’s normal.
If you want to preserve the contrast:
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Avoid polishing compounds
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Don’t scrub recessed areas
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Clean gently with a dry or slightly damp cloth only
If contrast fades over time, that’s simply the marker ageing with you.
Copper Inlays: Designed to Change
Copper behaves differently to brass. It darkens faster, reacts more visibly to touch, and develops variation rather than uniform ageing.
This is intentional.
Copper inlays will:
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Darken in low-touch areas
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Develop bright highlights where they’re handled
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Shift between warm reds, browns, and darker tones
One of the most interesting effects often comes from nothing more than friction.
A copper prototype Ace that’s been sitting on a desk for weeks can be brought back to life simply by rubbing it with a cloth. The highs brighten, the lows stay dark, and suddenly the inlay has depth again.
No chemicals required.
If you want more contrast, handle it more. If you want it darker, leave it alone.
What Not to Do
A few things to avoid if you want your marker to age well:
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No abrasive pads or steel wool
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No aggressive metal polishes unless you’re deliberately resetting the finish
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No soaking in acids or cleaners
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No expectation that it should look the same forever
This isn’t jewellery designed to live in a box. It’s meant to be used.
Final Thought
Every Omen marker will age differently because every owner uses them differently.
Some will stay clean and controlled. Others will pick up scars, dark edges, and worn highlights. Both outcomes are correct.
If you ever feel like your marker needs a reset, gentle cleaning will bring it back. If you like how it’s evolving, leave it alone.
That evolution is the real finish.