Brass naturally darkens as it ages. How fast it ages depends on how you take care of your jewelry, your skin type, and several other factors. Many people enjoy the look of aged brass, but if you prefer a more polished piece you can very easily brighten it back up. I would recommend using a polishing pad but it's also a great idea to invest in a Sunshine Polishing Cloth for your jewelry. These are very inexpensive, super long lasting, and can easily be found on Amazon.com. You can use these to polish up brass, sterling silver, gold, and rose gold jewelry. When polishing your jewelry, just remember not to rub the cloth on any of the resin parts, as that can dull the glossy finish of the resin. Be sure to carefully wipe or wash off any residue from the cloth.