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How did I not know this?! (Polishing rings at home)

  • Thread starter Thread starter MillieLou
  • Start date Start date
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MillieLou

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In anticipation of my new e-ring, I've been trying to find a local jeweller who is open in the coming week and willing to polish up my scratched up wedding ring. On googling, I came across this video by Garry Holloway on how to polish platinum (and gold) rings at home with any smooth stainless steel implement. 10 minutes with a screwdriver later, and I have a perfectly smooth platinum wedding ring. This "burnishing" apparently can be done as often as you like as it doesn't result in loss of any metal.

Does everyone know about this apart from me?! Are there any downsides I should be aware of?
 
I had no clue but I think I'm going to try it out on something less important but could still use a polish!! I am so glad you shared this!

Did you notice whatever you polished with getting duller looking?
 
I had no idea.
 
I've tried it this evening. I think my implement needs to be shinier though. It seemed to work better on my lightly scratched platinum. Don't think I want to try this out too often though. Better to leave it to the professionals but if I'm in a pinch ill remember this!
 
I expect not for use on plated rings, just solid gold / platinum / silver.

The screwdriver handle looked just the same after. The video mentions the smoother the steel is, the better the result as it's just the harder steel smoothing the more malleable ring metal over. I guess like a smooth palette knife on icing (frosting) for the bakers amongst us! I'll try another ring with a perfectly shiny stainless steel spoon tomorrow and report back.

The thing I find attractive about this is there being no loss of metal. I can't find a local jeweller who burnishes, they always do the standard buff and polish, which I have been reluctant to do too often as it will eventually wear the ring down.

I wonder if @Garry H (Cut Nut) may stop by, take a bow and clarify any questions ;)
 
Before and after. The difference is more obvious in real life.

Downside: my hand kind of aches ;)
 

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This will be my afternoon pastime as I watch my songbirds in the backyard! I have been meaning to take my husband’s platinum band in, but I’ve been putting it off. I like what they call “sympathetic polish” (?) where some memories are left in the metal, lol. I’ll post pics!
 
Wow @KristinTech that's a brilliant result!!

Turns out I don't have any perfectly smooth spoons. I am tempted to get an actual burnishing tool as in the GIA video now I know how easy it is! Found a stainless steel one for a few pounds on eBay.
 
MillieLou said:
Wow @KristinTech that's a brilliant result!!

Turns out I don't have any perfectly smooth spoons. I am tempted to get an actual burnishing tool as in the GIA video now I know how easy it is! Found a stainless steel one for a few pounds on eBay.
Click to expand...

I used a screwdriver that we had. It was not perfectly smooth, but it obviously did a great job! I finished it with a polishing cloth. Like I said, I like patina, so I would not ever need a mirror finish. I had no idea I could do this on DH’s ring though! It’s 20 years old and he wears it every day. I’ve only brought it in for a professional polish twice. And when I do, I make sure they know to leave some memories. :wavey: You can tell from the “before” pic that it was very rough!
 
It works! I used the back of a spoon. the results is pretty amazing. I did it on my platinum ring.

But I have reservation on doing this on gold ring, Wouldn't that remove the gold molecules? I am okay to do it on platinum ring due to the platinum property.
 
"Dh’s platinum ring! He’s pleased as punch."

Me too. I just took a large stainless screwdriver and did my 2-year-old ring. It was almost gray and now it looks like new.
 
I think @Garry H (Cut Nut) is on his summer holiday (hopefullu nowhere near the northern beaches)
I tried for ages to find his thread where he posted this video but im a bit of a homeless case sometimes
 
For those wondering about DH’s platinum ring—it took me about 10 minutes to do that with rests to stretch and relax my grip throughout. It was nothing!
 
Jewellers do this kind of polishing too, with a burnisher, which can be made of steel or agate.

The nice thing is that it doesn't remove metal, just smooths it out, whereas polishing with an impregnated cloth does remove some metal.
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