Brushed jewelry: how the matte finish is made

A golden sphere with a soft shimmer. A ring with a silky sheen. It’s the little details that make brushed jewelry special: fine lines give the metal depth and a gentle glow. We’ll show you how this finish is created and what makes hand finishing at Cosytas special.

What does “brushed” mean?

Brushing gives the metal a fine texture. Brushes or fine abrasives create tiny lines that soften the reflections. Depending on the technique, the pattern can be clearly visible or delicate and silky.

“Brushed” describes the finish, not the material. Jewelry with gold or silver plating can have this finish too. The shape, texture and metal color all play a part in the look.

How the soft matte finish is created

Illustration in six images: a ring is prepared, sanded, brushed, cleaned and then plated with gold. — Illustration of the process: preparing, sanding, brushing, cleaning and then gold plating. The final image shows the finished ring with its brushed surface.

1. Preparing the surface

First, uneven areas and unwanted tool marks are smoothed out on the shaped piece. Progressively finer abrasives create an even base, including around curves and edges.

2. Creating the texture

Brushes, abrasive pads or fine sandpaper give the metal its pattern. The grit, pressure and direction of movement determine how subtle or pronounced it will be. Moving in one direction creates even lines; changing direction changes the texture. The tool is chosen to suit the shape of the piece.

3. Cleaning and plating

Pieces with gold or silver plating receive an extra layer of metal. First, grease and any residue from the finishing process are carefully removed. With electroplating, an electric current then applies the metal layer in a special bath.

Brushing and plating need to work together. The illustration shows one possible sequence; the exact order depends on how the piece is made.

Brushed by hand at Cosytas

At Cosytas, the brushed finish is created by hand. The pressure and movement of the tool create the fine pattern. This takes care and time, especially around curves and narrow areas.

That’s why the texture is a little different on every piece. These small variations are part of the process of finishing by hand and give your jewelry its own character. You can see them best in the detail images.

A soft shimmer in gold and silver

The two Lumina sets show how metal color changes the look of a shape: the Lumina Gold Set is plated with 18k gold, while the Lumina Silver Set is plated with 925 sterling silver. Both feature brushed spheres. The base material of the Lumina Silver Set is a metal alloy.

Lumina Silver Set with brushed spheres: necklace and bracelet, plated with 925 sterling silver — Lumina Silver Set: plated with 925 sterling silver

Lumina Gold Set with brushed spheres: necklace and bracelet, plated with 18k gold — Lumina Gold Set: plated with 18k gold

Finish, base material and plating describe different features of your jewelry. “Plated with 18k gold” means a layer of gold has been applied. “Plated with 925 sterling silver” means a silver layer over another base material. Find out more in our guide to jewelry materials.

Wondering which finish suits your style? In “Brushed or polished: which jewelry suits your style?”, we compare the two looks and share tips for styling and caring for your jewelry.