Been wondering the same thing. I'm so drawn to it, but the question of whether it will quickly become dated has crossed my mind.

On the other hand, I plan to live in my home for at least another 10 years and so by the time I sell I'll probably have to replace stuff anyway and can buy the "lapis lazuli faucet" or whatever is the flavor du jour at the time. The choices we make now are to please ourselves, no?

It's easy enough to swap out hardware and faucets. I wouldn't worry about it.

It's always been around in that old bronze stuff gets grungy looking, but in kitchen accoutrements, it's definitely something new.

IMO I think it's a trend but what isn't. My concern was wear of the finish on a faucet. I kept thinking about how many chiped enamel faucets I have seen over the years. So we played it safe and boring and got a classic chrome faucet. We do have an ORB mail box and outdoor light which seem to be holding up for the past 7yrs.

The rental we are in now has ORB type finish on a couple of bathroom faucets. So I guess, using the antique guide (10 years is classic, 100 is antique) it's ummm classic :oP (Also it rubbed off and is basically dirty gold now because that was under the finish).

I'm using it in my master bath because I love the tone with my other chocolate, mocha, vanilla theme, but if worse comes to worse...I can easily replace that can't I? :o) ANd really, will it possibly date itself earlier than my crocodile skin tile??? heh heh

I think wrought iron metal is classic, and ORB kind of reminds me of wrought iron w/a sheen. If the black rubbed off, though, I don't think it would still look classic. (I didn't know it could rub off until I read igloo's post!) It also depends on how it's used; I just can't imagine it in a modern kitchen.

FYI~
I have ORB knobs and faucets. I love the look, but I do not recommend it.

Some ORB has a "living finish" which changes as you touch it and use it. The dark brown finish rubs off eventually to show a goldish tone underneath. My cabinet knobs have a living finish and you can pick out my trash drawer right away. That knob is the shiniest!

My Mico ORB faucets do not have a living finish, but one of them chipped. The dark brown just started to flake off. Mico replaced it without a problem, but it was annoying to wait for the repairman.
Also the ORB handle on my fridge scratched and shows a goldish color underneath.
If I had it to do over, I would make another choice.

I used to love ORB. DH vetoed it because he felt it was too trendy and would look dated sooner than brushed nickel, SS or chrome. Also, did you ever notice that no two ORB, be it faucet or light fixture seem to match??

Chrome had been around forever and still looks good to me (although our faucets are SS).

I think the question is flawed: a lot of classic things get too popular, too common, and fall back out of favor.

ORB is pretty new in the faucet world. It's probably the most common color out there right now, and is almost certain to be less so in the future.

You can argue that ORB gives us another choice, warms and extends the color pallet for hardware, etc. Pretty much the same goes for bright brass, though, and when was the last time you saw a large display of that at Lowe's?

But despite all that, I'm using ORB in several baths, all the door knobs, etc. Because even though it may look dated in another 10 years, it suits the style and colors of my home, and I like it's dark, warm look. I'm confident that I'll still love it long after the world of fashion has moved on.

To answer your question, I don't think it's 'always' been around, though I imagine the origin was to mimic time worn metal fixtures. I love it, and it does blend very well with the antique handles on my antique and reproduction furniture. But as one poster commented on the lack of matching, it would be like saying do you notice that the whites don't match? Ever looked at the wall of 'white' samples in a paint store? (Can't get much more classic than white)

I like having the choice of another color pallet to choose from. I have faux finished door hardware and an iron stair railing in ORB, and to get that rich look did require layering of colours, so I can see how some of those layers could get 'worn off' in high use areas. There are lots of paint finishes out there, so for those who need to, you could probably touch up/refinish those worn handles/knobs and protect with urethane/varathane.

it's been around before...long ago. and then more recently in similar colors such as "patina brass" and "antique bronze" and "rust". those aren't exactly the same thing of course, but basically dark brown matte finish. i think for kitchen faucets and cabinet pulls it is a trend. for things like light fixtures and doorknobs it is more classic. just MHO. kren

I used it in the second bathroom and I like it for a practical reason - it doesn't get water spots! The brushed nickel in the master bath is always dirty, ugh. The kitchen is all stainless and chrome.

But WORD to the tough time finding matching ORB, if you can't find a set. I managed to find okay matches on the towel rods and shower curtain rod so that folks don't notice they aren't a perfect match to the faucets.

I am actually considering it for cabinet pulls and lighting finish.... I am less sure about the faucet although I do like it, I am undecided so far.
For the pulls, I will order extras and the ones I am looking at, thanks to all you on here are pretty inexpensive. Not that I want to replace them, but I will order extras if I go that route.
I am looking at yourhomesupply.com and I called them to inquire and they seem very helpful.
This is the one (as of yesterday:) that I am liking. (and check out the price))))))

Here is a link that might be useful: pretty orb pull

Artteacher, maybe you need to rotate your knobs, like your tires? :)

I love my ORB faucet, pulls, knobs and switchplates now. And in the big scheme of things, if I decide to change them out in 10 years for whatever is trendy then, it won't be a huge expense. I'm just hoping that bigger stuff like the stainless appliances, granite, slate floor, and the maple cabinets will stand the test of time!

I hedged my bets. I have three bathrooms...one is in shiny brass, one is ORB and the other in silvers. One floor of my home will always be in fashion :)

Sheilaaus,

Those are very pretty, will look nice in your kitchen with those fixtures that are 'still to arrive'. Prices are even prettier! Assuming 'fixed shipping rate' doesn't eat up the savings!

Well the fixed shipping charges are $5.95.
And I did order them and they are already shipped. They say I should have them by Thursday. Let's see, maybe something will actually come when ordered and not get lost or backordered or whatever. Keep your fingers crossed for me.
(you might have a clue as to how I anguish over decisions. I am so happy I made the decision. I kept coming back to them and when I saw the price and shipping.... well it was a no brainer.)

I have one of the earlier incarnations of ORB--antiqued brass hardware and I can't wait to get rid of it for something shiny & silver in color!

Believe it or not, I ordered them yesterday just before 1 pm. They arrived today.
They are a good weight, and look really nice.
The orb color is a more consistent brown as opposed to the coppery colorss peeking through (which I would have preferred, but they were absolutely as represented).
I would definitely deal with them again. yourhomesupply on the web and or ebay.

From what I read, ORB doorknobs are supposed to mimick what very old brass knobs with patina look like. I was told that if you take brass hardware that is unsealed and let it age, first it goes through a splotchy phase, and then it evens out and becomes more of the look of oil rubbed bronze. There is supposed to be a product that you can apply to new brass to make it age into an orb finish pronto.

I just bought wax cast orb knobs. I hope they don't get funky with age. I'm wondering if I should have bought brass and used the process described above.