Prefinishing, Polishing and Buffing

Quality Assurance Benchmarks highlight workmanship of semi-finished or finished jewelry. Learn how to evaluate the quality of a platinum ring that has been prefinished, polished, and buffed.

Side and perspective views of a four-prong, platinum solitaire
Side and perspective views of four-prong, platinum solitaires with diamonds in the shank. The quality mark of “950 Pt/Ru” is visible in the perspective view, indicating that this ring was made using an alloy of platinum ruthenium

Polishing and Buffing

Tools and Techniques for Polishing and Buffing Platinum

Jeweler polishing a platinum ring at a polishing machine.

Achieving the best results

Two yellow-treated wheels labeled “800” and “1500,” and three white wheels labeled “4000,” “6000,” and “8000,”indicating the abrasive grades of the platinum polishing compounds placed on top of the wheels,

Avoiding Cross-Contamination

A jeweler placing a yellow platinum polishing wheel labeled “800” and compound into an individual storage bag also labeled “800”

Polishing Platinum

Jeweler polishing a platinum ring at a polishing machine.

Polishing at the Bench

A jeweler preparing to polish a platinum ring using the yellow-treated wheel labeled “800”

Polishing Inside Settings

Jeweler holding the setting of a four-prong, platinum solitaire with no center stone. The inside of the setting is visible.

Buffing Platinum: Achieving the Best Results

Jeweler finishing the four-prong, platinum solitaire on the 4000 grit abrasive wheel

Buffing Inside Settings

Jeweler holding a platinum band at the bench, in preparation for buffing

Featured Quality Assurance Benchmarks

Evaluate the quality of the setting of a ring with platinum prongs

Set a Round in Platinum Prongs
Setting a round center stone in a ring with platinum prongs

    Setting a Princess-cut Center Stone in a Platinum Mounting with V-Prongs

    Set a Princess-cut in V-Prongs

    Setting a Princess-cut Center Stone in a Platinum Mounting with V-Prongs

      Evaluate the quality of a platinum cobalt ring with no diamonds in the shank that was sized down using a torch. Contains video and illustrations.

      Sizing Down: Platinum Cobalt
      Sizing down a platinum cobalt ring using a laser welder

        Evaluate the quality of platinum jewelry that has been worn and then refinished.

        Refinish Worn Platinum Jewelry
        Techniques for refinishing worn platinum jewelry

          Prefinishing, Polishing and Buffing