Chrome Vs Polished Chrome Faucets . If the product will be a polished chrome finish, the brass parts will be polished to a mirror finish. There is virtually no difference in the appearance, and chrome is a lot less expensive. Polished Chrome Versus Polished Nickel San Marino, CA Patch from patch.com Satin nickel is nickel's natural finish, whereas brushed nickel is scoured or treated to get its finish. So, most chrome is really just plated in metal to. Chrome gives the metal a soft blue sheen, whereas nickel’s normal colour is yellow or white.