You can get Baldwin brand oil rubbed bronze hardware that is not the living finish. I did not know about "living finish" problem until I started doing research. I certainly don't want the finish to wear off after having spent all that money on the fixtures!

"Is there any way to keep the finish looking like new & protect it from wearing off revealing the shiny brass underneath?"

I'm in the hardware business and I can tell you that no, there are no bronzes that won't eventually patina or eventually become "rubbed" bronze.

The reason for this is that the pigmentation of the finish is done with soft metals. Just as copper colored spray paint has copper in it. This means that the finish will reflect the weakness of the soft metals used to paint it.

Pigmentation used in red, black, blue, green, knobs etc. are minerals which are much harder. Other finishes that won't change over time are finishes that actually are the metal, such as stainless steel.

The bronze is simply too malleable of a metal to not wear away over time.

Here is a link that might be useful: D. Lawless Hardware

Living finishes are much easier to care for than they seem . We recommend regular cleaning with water and a soft cloth to remove dirt and oil from regular use. You can also touch up any wear with wax and mineral oil to keep your fixtures looking new. Check out our latest blog for more information about caring for your Oil Rubbed Bronze fixtures!