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Jewelry Filing & Polishing

Expert hand finishing for cast jewelry — from raw casting to retail-ready shine.

The Difference Between a Casting and a Finished Piece

A raw casting comes off the tree with sprues, flash lines, minor porosity, and rough surfaces. Filing and polishing is what turns it into a piece of jewelry someone wants to wear. This step takes skill, patience, and the right hands — it's where craftsmanship shows most.

Our finishers work with needle files, flex shafts, abrasive papers from 320 to 2000 grit, and polishing compounds to bring each piece to the exact finish you need. Whether that's a high mirror polish, a satin brush, a matte texture, or a combination of finishes on the same piece — we do it by hand with consistent results.

Finish Types

Every finish option a jewelry brand or manufacturer could need.

Mirror Polish

High-reflective mirror finish achieved through progressive polishing stages. The standard for engagement rings, fine jewelry, and anything that needs to catch light and look premium.

Satin & Brushed

Directional brushed finish for a modern, understated look. We control the grain direction and texture depth to match your design intent. Popular for men's bands and contemporary pieces.

Matte & Sandblast

Uniform matte surface achieved through sandblasting or chemical treatment. Creates contrast when combined with polished elements on the same piece.

Mixed Finishes

Polished top surfaces with matte sides, brushed bands with polished edges, textured backgrounds behind polished raised elements. We mask and finish in stages.

Sprue & Flash Cleanup

Removal of casting sprues, investment flash, and parting lines. We file and blend the attachment point until it's invisible — no evidence of where the piece was connected to the tree.

Pre-Setting Prep

Final surface preparation before stone setting. Stone seats are cleaned, prongs are shaped, and surfaces around setting areas are finished to avoid tool marks after stones are placed.

Finishing Process

Progressive steps from rough casting to final finish.

1

Sprue Removal & Rough Filing

Casting sprues are cut and filed flush. Rough surfaces, flash lines, and investment residue are removed with needle files and flex shaft attachments.

2

Progressive Smoothing

Abrasive papers from coarse to fine (320 → 600 → 1000 → 2000 grit) remove file marks and bring the surface to a uniform smoothness. Each grit removes the scratches from the previous one.

3

Polishing

Polishing compound on a buff wheel brings the surface to final shine. Tripoli for initial cutting, then rouge for mirror finish. Each piece is inspected under magnification.

4

Final Inspection

Every piece is inspected under 10x magnification for remaining scratches, pits, or uneven surfaces. Only pieces that pass move to stone setting or shipping.

Need Finishing Services?

Send us your raw castings or have us handle the entire chain from CAD to polished piece.

Get a Free Quote

Or email us at info@jewelcaddesign.com

Our Other Services

Full manufacturing capabilities — from digital design to finished piece.

JewelCAD Design