Jewelry finishes are an important part of the jewelry design process because they put the final touch on a piece of jewelry and give it its overall look and feel. And like many of the steps in the design process, there are many beautiful options to choose from. Below we take a look at the different jewelry finishes and techniques, describe them and show some examples.
Finishes First…
There are many different types of finishes available for jewelry that add depth and beauty and of course variety. When you order custom made jewelry, it’s important to understand what they are so you can be as specific and detailed about your order as possible.
High polish/high shine: A high polished finish is one where the metal is polished until it is shiny and there are no rough or blurry spots left on the metal’s surface. This is a finish that is commonly used for wedding rings and in fact is one of the most common finishes. The drawback to the polished finish is that it is easily scratched.
Pendant with highly polished metal finish.
Brushed: A brushed finish has a texture to it, as if it were made with a brush, and it is not shiny. It is similar to a satin finish (see below). Brushed finishes are popular on men’s wedding rings. The type of metal uses, as well as the wire brush, affect the outcome of the final texture.
Mens band with brushed texture
Hammered: Like it’s name suggests, jewelry with a hammered finish gives off the appearance that it’s been hammered. The dappled pattern that results from this type of finish is warm and a bit more subtle than other jewelry finishes. There is also a type of hammered finish called a pebbled finish. The pebbled finish has a matte or satin finish instead of a polished and shiny finish, so the surface is not highly reflective.
Gemstone ring with hammered texture
Matte/Satin: Jewelry that has a matte finish, also called a satin finish, is jewelry that has a non-reflective or dull surface. This is usually achieved via a chemical process or by using abrasive material to rub the piece’s surface. The result is a more subtle, less glossy look. It is frequently used for jewelry made from gold, silver and other metals.
Pendant with highly polished and matte/satin finish
Sandblasted (stardust): A sandblasted finish is a type of matte finish that has a cool, frosted appearance and a textured, slightly rough feel. To achieve a sandblasted finish, a sandblasting machine that blasts small particles of sand and glass on the metal surface is used. The force of the sandblasting will determine how the final finish will look.
Diamond set ring with sandblasted texture
Techniques Too…
Not all final touches on jewelry are a result of the finish that is applied. Sometimes a special technique is used that can change the color, but not the texture of the metal. Some of the more widely used techniques are described below.
Enameling: In jewelry, an enamel coating is a decorative coating made from a glass, paste-like substance that is fused to the metal at very high temperatures. It can vary in translucency and color depending on the metal oxides that are contained in the glass substance and the temperature used for fusing.
Pendant with black enamel inlay
E-coating: E-coating, also known as electro-coating or electro deposition, provides a unique and beautiful finish to jewelry because it makes it possible to add nontraditional colors to a metal’s surface in an even and consistent coat. Our blog post on e-coating jewelry trends explains enameling and its benefits in greater detail. Feel free to check it out if you want more info.
Oxidation: Oxidation, also commonly referred to as an antique finish, is a chemical process used to give your jewelry a tarnished or antique look. It is commonly used for silver jewelry and gives it a black patina. The effect is achieved by using a chemical to speed up the oxidation effect. Feel free to learn more about this process and other color coating processes in our blog about colored chains and necklaces.
Plating: Plating, another technique for changing the color of your jewelry metal, is achieved with the use of an electrical conveyance technique that deposits a layer of gold onto the surface of another metal. It is frequently used for giving silver jewelry a gold plating.
