How do I give gold wire and chain a matte finish?

Jewelry Discussion
1

I use 18 karat gold beads from India in my work, which have this
really great matte finish. But all of the 18 karat chain and wire
that is commercially available has a very shiny finish, which does
not match those beads. Any tips on how to give the wire and chain a
matte finish, without painstakingly rubbing it with a glass brush or
sandblasting it? Or, failing that, any tips on goldsmiths or
refiners who would custom-create matte wire and chain for me?

THANK YOU!

2

Amanda,

One way to achieve a matte finish is to use a simple 3M plastic
Scotch pad. Just run it over the wire or chain and it will dull the
finish. It is not really a permanent treatment however and will
gradually shine with use. You can cut out little wheels of it and use
it with your flexshaft as well.

If you want a more permanent matte finish, get an Paasche ‘air
eraser’ from you local hobby shop where they sell air brush supplies.
Connect it to a small compressor and, using glass balls, aluminum
oxide compound or other mild abrasive, you will achieve a rather long
lasting matte finish…and it will be quite even in texture as well.

Cheers from Don at The Charles Belle Studio in SOFL where simple
elegance IS fine jewelry! @coralnut1

3

Amanda:

You can lightly sandpaper the chain after you’ve wrapped it around
cardboard so it’s easily accessible. Sand in one direction,
lightly!

Or you can use powdered pumice (available in hardware stores) with
an old, soft toothbrush in the same manner. Wet the toothbrush, dip
it into the pumice and work it into the chain. If you’re using
pumice, I’ve used an old credit card to hold the chain in place so
it won’t disintegrate like cardboard in the water.

Hope this helps!

Nina Leto
Lenina Hand-Crafted Jewelry

4

Why not just tumble it with abrasive media? I’ve got one tumbler
that’s got plastic abrasive in it, which leaves a very nice matte
finish. You could try tumbling some of the beads in it and see how
close to the original finish it gets – might be a good idea to toss
the entire piece in there when you’ve made it, to get the finish even
all 'round.

Loren