Are there differences between Natural and Brilliant finishes?
Looks: The most noticeable difference is the look: ‘Brilliant Finish’ cymbals are machine buffed then hand polished to a smooth, bright and shiny high-gloss look. ‘Natural Finish’ cymbals are neither buffed nor polished, remaining instead in their natural state. The buffing process of cymbals that are lathed (with ‘tonal rings’ in their surface) will smooth the tops (‘peaks’) of the grooves, creating a smoother touch and look Sounds: While looks differ greatly, sounds between ‘Natural’ and ‘Brilliant’ cymbals may differ only slightly, if at all. The high-pressure buffing removes a very thin layer of metal (a 16″ cymbal may shed approx. 1 to 2 ounces), but this has little if any noticeable effect on the sound. The possibility of difference has more to do with the surface of the cymbal being smoothed by the friction created by the pressure of the buffing. If the cymbal is lathed, the buffing will smooth the high edges of the grooves, rounding them off and thereby reducing the depth of ea
