Prefinishing Platinum

After filing the added piece to match the shank dimensions, begin with the smoothest grade of abrasive to remove the file marks. Grades range from 220 (coarse) to 8000 (ultra-fine).

Most of the prefinishing for this ring is completed after the stones have been set. If not careful, excessive prefinishing could reduce prong dimensions, which can make the stones more likely to fall out of their settings.

It’s important to carefully prefinish and polish after setting the stones. This practice provides a better finished look.

Remove the cast surface, tool marks, and any oxidation left behind from soldering (platinum cobalt alloys only)

Be careful to retain all shapes. On the featured ring, the prongs are flat. They must remain flat as the bezel edges are prefinished.

These wheels are resilient, hold an edge, and generate less heat

When prefinishing platinum, start with the inner surfaces. As wheels wear and become smaller, they are ideal for use inside a ring.

Identify grades of abrasives on the tool’s shaft. Proper placement allows for quick location of, and access to, the tool needed.

Cross-contamination is one of the biggest problems encountered during the platinum finishing process. So always clean debris from the piece that is left behind from coarser grades of materials before moving to finer grades.

Keep all abrasive tools labeled and organized for more efficient finishing

These materials are fast-cutting, uniform, and resin-bonded, and are available in plain or adhesive polyester film backing

Here, the film is wrapped around flat sticks. It can be used in a variety of prefinishing applications.

Microfinishing film is also available in strips and other shapes. It can be custom-fitted for tools that have various applications. This is important for retaining design details and uniformity.

For organization and efficiency, label the abrasives from coarse to fine. Use them only for platinum.