Polishing - adding the final touches
We told you in previous pages how we usually receive 'blank' unfinished rings from external workshops. Some just need polishing but others need to be reshaped, resized or to have more work done to turn them into your perfectly finished engagement, eternity or wedding ring. Every piece our workshop makes finishes with the ring being polished in one way or another. Most of our rings are hand-polished using a polishing motor as below, and then cleaned.
When a ring needs diamonds or other decoration, it's often first given a preliminary polish with a barrel polisher. The rings are put into the barrel, along with a solution of water and cleaning compound, and some stainless steel ‘shot’ – different size balls and spiky shapes. The barrel rotates and the solution is mixed around, making the rings bounce off the steel to end up with an even finish. Barrel polishing can be enough to finish some plain wedding rings, but the majority are given a harder polish by hand or against a motor to really give them the perfect mirror finish.
The polishing motor has spindles, around which ‘mops’ are wound. These mops are used to do the actual polishing, and are made of different materials depending on the finish required:
Calico mops are used to create a rough finish in the first stages of polishing.
Swan down is used to add the final shine to a mirror finished ring.
Scotchbrite mops and frosting wheels are used to put matt and satin finishes on a ring.
Needles are used to create a stardust finish – the needles are attached to the mop and spin freely, creating an even, sparkling surface as they hit the ring.
Where a ring has intricate work, e.g. diamonds, a thin brush can be used to get into the crevice to ensure the polish is present throughout the ring.
Finger felts are used to polish the insides of rings.
Our workshop spend most of their time making bespoke jewellery for customers. If you have something in mind that you can't find on the site you should contact us. Take a look at our bespoke design service page then tell us your ideas for the perfect wedding ring.
