The Metals We Work With: Copper, Bronze, Pewter, Brass, and Steel Explained
A handful of metals turn up again and again on the anniversary list, and they are genuinely easy to mix up. Copper, bronze, and brass in particular look like cousins, and most people could not say offhand what separates one from the next.
So here is a plain guide to the five metals we work with most. For each one: what it actually is, how to tell it apart from the others, and which anniversary year it marks. If you want the full story on any single metal, each section links to its own guide.
Quick Reference: The Metals and Their Years
The short version, before we get into each one:
• Copper — warm reddish-brown. The 7th and 22nd anniversaries.
• Bronze — deeper golden-brown. The 8th and 19th anniversaries.
• Pewter — soft silver-grey. The 10th anniversary.
• Brass — bright golden-yellow. The 21st anniversary.
• Steel — cool silver-grey, which we hand-darken to a gunmetal tone. The 11th anniversary (and iron, its raw form, for the 6th).
Copper
Copper is a pure metal with a warm, reddish-brown color, the warmest and pinkest of the group. Left alone, it deepens and darkens over time, taking on a patina as it is handled. It is the softest-looking of the warm metals.
Copper marks the 7th and 22nd anniversaries. For the full story, see our guide to copper anniversary gifts for the 7th anniversary.
Bronze
Bronze is an alloy, mostly copper mixed with tin. That tin gives it a deeper, browner, slightly darker tone than pure copper, less pink and more earthy. If copper is a warm penny color, bronze is a step toward chocolate.
Bronze marks the 8th and 19th anniversaries. For the full story, see our guide to bronze anniversary gifts for the 8th anniversary.
Pewter
Pewter is the odd one out here, because it is the only cool-toned metal of the traditional group. It is a soft silver-grey, understated and matte rather than shiny. It is a tin-based alloy, which is why it reads softer and warmer than steel despite the grey color.
Pewter marks the 10th anniversary. For the full story, see our guide to pewter anniversary gifts for the 10th anniversary.
Brass
Brass is an alloy of copper and zinc, and the zinc is what turns it golden. It is the brightest and most yellow of the warm metals, closer to gold than copper or bronze. Where bronze goes brown, brass goes yellow. That is the quickest way to tell the two apart.
Brass marks the 21st anniversary. For the full story, see our guide to brass anniversary gifts for the 21st anniversary.
Steel
Steel is iron refined with carbon, which makes it harder and stronger than iron on its own. It is a cool silver-grey, more industrial and modern-looking than pewter. We hand-darken our steel pieces, which deepens that grey into a rich gunmetal tone and gives each one a forged, one-of-a-kind look.
Steel marks the 11th anniversary. Iron, which is steel in its raw form, marks the 6th. For the full story, see our guide to steel anniversary gifts for the 11th anniversary.
How to Tell the Warm Metals Apart
Copper, bronze, and brass cause the most confusion, since all three are warm-toned. The simplest way to keep them straight is by what they lean toward:
• Copper leans red and pink, like a new penny.
• Bronze leans brown, deeper and earthier.
• Brass leans yellow, the closest of the three to gold.
Pewter and steel are both cool greys, and the difference there is tone and feel: pewter is soft and matte, while steel is harder-edged and, in our pieces, darkened toward gunmetal.
Which Metal Is Right for Your Gift?
If you are shopping for a specific anniversary, the year decides the metal, and the quick reference above points you to the right one. If you are shopping by look rather than by year, choose the tone that suits the person: copper and bronze for warmth, brass for a brighter golden note, pewter for something soft and understated, and darkened steel for a modern, industrial feel.
For the complete year-by-year list, see our full guide to traditional metal anniversary gifts.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between bronze and brass?
Both are copper alloys, but they are mixed with different metals, which changes the color. Bronze is copper and tin and leans brown and earthy. Brass is copper and zinc and leans bright yellow, closer to gold. Color is the fastest way to tell them apart: brown is bronze, yellow is brass.
What is the difference between copper and bronze?
Copper is a pure metal with a warm, reddish-brown color. Bronze is copper mixed with tin, which gives it a deeper, browner tone. Copper leans red and pink; bronze leans brown.
Is pewter the same as silver?
No. Pewter is a tin-based alloy with a soft, matte silver-grey color, while silver is its own precious metal and is brighter and shinier. Pewter is often chosen as a more affordable, understated alternative for the silver look.
What is the difference between steel and iron?
Steel is iron refined with carbon, which makes it harder and stronger than iron on its own. They are closely related: iron is the raw metal for the 6th anniversary, and steel is the refined version for the 11th.
Which anniversary is each metal?
Copper is the 7th and 22nd, bronze is the 8th and 19th, pewter is the 10th, brass is the 21st, and steel is the 11th, with iron (steel's raw form) for the 6th. Our full year-by-year guide covers the complete list.
More Anniversary Gift Guides
• Traditional Metal Anniversary Gifts: A Complete Guide (Years 5 to 25)
• What Is the 7th Anniversary Gift? A Guide to Copper
• What Is the 8th Anniversary Gift? A Guide to Bronze
• What Is the 10th Anniversary Gift? A Guide to Pewter
• What Is the 11th Anniversary Gift? Steel for 11 Years
• What Is the 21st Anniversary Gift? Brass, the Overlooked Metal
Our metal keepsakes are shaped, hammered, and finished by hand in our small studio near Lake Murray, South Carolina. We are a female-owned small business, and we take the time to get each piece right, because someone is going to keep it for a long time.
Thoughtfully crafted, just for you.