Bright nickel and a slightly blackened nickel are also popular. White and almond have been around for a while, but frequently these colors come in plastic, which doesn't hold up to years of bathroom abuse. Today, some companies put an enamel-like finish on solid brass and that finish lasts. Ceramic parts, like the old-fashioned X handles of the turn of the century, are again being used in modern faucets. The best part about any modern faucet is that the insides are now better than ever before.
Many faucets use a ceramic disk as the shut off mechanism.
The ceramic is harder than any of the minerals in the water, so unlike rubber parts, it can't break down and leak. You've rarely seen a tarnished nickel. That's because it is the material they add to steel to make stainless steel. This brushed nickel finish with brass accents is from Price Pfister and its Georgetown line is naturally tarnish resistant. This Revival faucet from Kohler is in Kohler's Vibrant brass finish, which the company says is more durable than polished chrome.