# Jewelry finishes glossary: polish, satin, patina…

> Surface finishes explained: roughing, sanding, polishing, buffing, satin, matte, brushed, textured, patina and mirror polish.

- Source: https://www.711grados.com/en/finishes-glossary/
- Language: en
- Note: This entry was drafted with the help of AI and is pending review by the author.
- Published: 2026-07-05
- Updated: 2026-07-05
- Translation (es): https://www.711grados.com/es/glosario-de-acabados/
- Author: Sandra Sánchez
- Site: 711 Grados (https://www.711grados.com/)

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The finish is the last thing done to a jewel and the first thing seen. These are the terms, with their Spanish equivalent.

## Preparing the surface

- **Roughing (desbaste):** removing excess metal and large marks with files or burs.
- **Sanding (lijado):** working through papers of ever finer grit to erase earlier marks. See [filing and sanding](https://www.711grados.com/en/filing-and-sanding/).

## Shine

- **Polishing (pulido):** leaving the surface smooth and bright with abrasive compounds. See [polishing and buffing](https://www.711grados.com/en/polishing-and-buffing-metal/).
- **Buffing (abrillantado):** the last stage of polishing, with fine compounds such as rouge. See [tripoli and rouge](https://www.711grados.com/en/polishing-compounds-tripoli-rouge-and-more/).
- **Mirror polish (pulido espejo):** a shine so perfect it reflects like a mirror; it shows every flaw.

## Without shine

- **Satin finish (satinado):** a soft sheen with very fine lines. See [matte, satin and brushed](https://www.711grados.com/en/surface-finishes-matte-satin-brushed-hammered/).
- **Matte (mate):** a surface with no shine, made by bead blasting or sanding.
- **Brushed (cepillado):** parallel lines made with a brush or abrasive in one direction.

## Relief and color

- **Textured (texturizado):** hammered, engraved or otherwise marked. See [texturing](https://www.711grados.com/en/texturing-metal-surfaces/).
- **Patina (patinado):** a layer of color, by natural or induced oxidation. See [coloring of metals](https://www.711grados.com/en/coloring-of-metals/).
- **Oxidizing (oxidación):** controlled darkening, for example with liver of sulfur, to bring out relief.
- **Antique finish (acabado envejecido):** dark patina in the recesses and polish on the high points, which gives the look of an old piece.

## Protection

Finishes can be protected with lacquer or wax: see [lacquering and protection](https://www.711grados.com/en/lacquering-and-surface-protection/).