Choose zinc alloy if you want a lighter belt at the listed price, which is the price shown on the product page. Choose brass if you want a heavier, harder plate and are happy to pay $100 more. The plates are the metal pieces on the front of the belt, and these are the two metals they can be made from. Both are real metal. Both are cut and engraved to the same design, and both can have 24K gold plating, which is a thin layer of real gold on the surface. Once a plate is gold plated, the surface you see is the gold layer in either case. So the difference is mostly one you feel in your hands, not one you see from the front.
Zinc alloy and brass side by side
| Question | Zinc alloy | Brass |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Included in the listed price | +$100 |
| What it is | Zinc mixed with small amounts of other metals | Copper mixed with zinc |
| Weight, at the same size and thickness | Lighter | Heavier |
| Hardness | Softer | Harder |
| Gold plating | Optional. Zinc alloy takes plating well | Optional |
| Consider it if | You want the lower cost and a belt that is easier to wear | You want more weight in the hand |
These comparisons are general knowledge about the two metals. We do not publish belt weights. If you need a figure for a zinc alloy or brass build, ask and we will confirm it in writing for your order.
What is zinc alloy?
An alloy is a metal made by mixing two or more metals, to get properties that one metal alone does not have. Zinc alloy is mostly zinc, with small amounts of other metals added. It is lighter and more affordable than brass, and it takes plating well. At MS Belts it is the standard plate metal, and the listed price is based on it.
What is brass?
Brass is an alloy of copper and zinc. You may know it from musical instruments and door handles. Compared with zinc alloy it is denser, heavier and harder, and it costs more as a raw material. At MS Belts it is an upgrade that adds $100.
What will you actually notice?
- Weight. A denser metal packs more weight into the same space. A brass plate weighs more than a zinc alloy plate of the same size and thickness. You feel this when you lift the belt or wear it.
- Hardness. In general, brass is the harder of the two metals.
- The finish. Plating is a surface layer that can wear with abrasion, which means rubbing. That is true on either metal.
What you will not notice is a different design. The artwork on the plates is the same in either metal. So is the strap.
Is brass better?
Not automatically. Brass is heavier and harder. If that is what you want from a belt, that is what the $100 pays for. If you want a belt that is easier to wear, or easier to pass from one winner to the next, the lighter metal is the sensible choice. Zinc alloy is not a shortcut. It is the standard plate metal, and a zinc alloy belt is a complete belt.
Which should you choose?
- A league or office belt that changes hands: zinc alloy keeps the weight and the cost down.
- A belt for a child or a smaller adult: zinc alloy, because lighter is easier to wear.
- A display piece or a one-off award that you want to feel substantial: brass.
- One upgrade only: decide whether colour or weight matters more to you. Gold plating changes the colour for $70. Brass changes the weight for $100. The guide to gold plating explains the finish.
How do metal and thickness work together?
Plate thickness also changes weight. Our plates are 2 mm thick as standard, with 4 mm, 6 mm and 8 mm as upgrades at $40 per step. A thicker plate weighs more in either metal, so brass and extra thickness add up. One thickness step costs $40 and brass costs $100, so there is more than one route to a heavier belt. We do not publish weights, so ask us which route suits your design. See plate thickness explained.
What does brass do to the total price?
Brass adds $100 to the listed price. Other options are added on top. For example, brass with 4 mm plates adds $100 + $40 = $140. With gold plating as well, the belt costs $100 + $40 + $70 = $210 more than the standard build without gold plating. For more examples, see what a championship belt costs.
Does brass change the timing or the care?
Our general estimate is that most belts are made in about 5 to 6 working days. We do not publish a separate figure for brass. If you have a fixed date, tell us before you order and we will confirm the timing for your build in writing.
For either metal the general rules of care are the same. Keep plated surfaces away from anything abrasive, and keep the leather strap dry and away from heat. The care, cleaning and storage guide has the detail.
In short
- Zinc alloy is the standard plate metal. Brass is an upgrade that adds $100.
- Brass is denser, heavier and harder. Zinc alloy is lighter and costs less.
- With gold plating on both, the difference is mostly the weight you feel, not the look.
- We do not publish belt weights. Ask and we will confirm the figure in writing for your order.
Next step
Choose a design in the custom championship belts collection and select the plate metal on its product page.
