Polished graver/matte surface, matte surface/polished graver

[James Roettger]

I have always just kept all my gravers polished figuring that is what people want. Today a ring crossed my desk with inside engraving that was matte. It looked great against the polished surface. A book I once read said to always make the graver the opposite of the surface, either polished or matte. I figured the surface will matte up with wear so polish is the way to go from the start. I am curious what others think and practice in this aspect. Most engraving from the past I see in the jewelry world is done with a polished graver.

 

[Brian Marshall]

Do you mean it was blasted or etched down in the engraving and then the main surface polished?


Brian

 

[James Roettger]

The engraving was done with a like a 400 grit finished graver point rather than a polished face.

 

[Brian Marshall]

Seen it done with narrow liners like 6/3, 6/4 & such, but not with intentionally rough gravers...


B.

 

[James Roettger]

I see matte work occasionally. Most work is polished but this example jumped nicely from the polished inside ring surface and caused me to rethink it.