@Jim Edgar I just took a peak at that link and wow that is very thorough. I promise to read more myself - but selfishly can you tell me where I should be looking//what is most important to deduce in terms of the lead testing? I see Signature says "some (but not all)" .. So assuming that is the issue? Comparatively - does something like Kingston Brass seem to check those boxes better? I see for them: Certified to Joint U.S./Canadian Standards. of Safety, Reliability & Durability (ASME A112.18.1CSA 125.1) Certified Lead-Free and Drinking Water safe. (ANSI/NSF 61/9)

Thank you Palimpset! :) Good thing to consider about the uneven aging...hmmmm..def something to think about there... which leads me to a follow up Q... what if I like how they look when they arrive or shortly after a slight patina develops? To keep them from developing more of a patina, how would I clean them/what would I use *while they are still attached to cabs*? All the polishing/cleaning insx talk about removing them. I would not want to do that...I would want to use something to continuous upkeep but I want to make sure it would not stain my cabinet finish or strip the paint off of cabinets...that sort of thing...anyone? :)

fwiw...some cheapie hints... Home Depot online can be accessed through EBates, which gives a little rebate for the referral. Go to Ebates first (have to register), then go to HD. Some of the other online kitchen stuff companies are also available through the Ebates internal referral service. I got a $35 refund check from them one month. I wish I had known about Ebates before I spent big bucks on two cast iron sinks and two faucets through HDepot online. Look for online codes and/or holiday discounts from the various vendors. You'd be surprised what are considered "holidays" by the online companies. Mayday might be a 10% off day, that kind of thing. I know that "Black Friday" after Thanksgiving was a good discount day (actually the entire weekend and the Monday afterward) and even April Fool's Day had a discount for some vendors. Often the home web page for a company has today's discount code listed on it. I've sometimes emailed the company on the "contact us" and asked point-blank, "Is there a discount today or in the next week which I need to type in when I buy online?" Often they give me the info. Or they tell me to register for their email newsletter so I can snag the upcoming code for the next "sale." At least that tells me that there is a sale coming up.

Unlacquered brass is for folks that love to polish brass -- every single day -- to keep it looking new and shiny. Or, for folks who love the look of tarnished, cruddy brass. If tarnished and cruddy is your preferred aesthetic or polishing brass your idea of great fun (or you suffered severe head trauma while serving in the U.S. Navy), go ahead and install an unlacquered brass faucet. Otherwise, you should look for another finish option such as PVD brass for a shiny, polished finish that never tarnishes.