Jewellers’ Rouge

Jewellers’ Rouge

Jewellers’ rouge, also known as red rouge or polishing rouge, is a fine abrasive powder used in the jewellery industry for polishing and buffing precious metals, such as gold, silver, and platinum. It is a type of iron oxide that is finely ground and purified to produce a bright red powder. The name “rouge” comes from the French word for red, which describes the colour of the powder. Jewellers’ rouge is commonly used on a soft cloth or felt wheel, along with a polishing compound or lubricant, to achieve a high shine on jewellery pieces. The abrasive nature of the powder helps to remove scratches, blemishes, and other imperfections on the surface of the metal, while the lubricant helps to prevent the powder from scratching the metal further. The use of jewellers’ rouge dates back to ancient times, where it was used by artisans to polish and finish metalwork. Today, it remains an essential tool in the jewellery industry, where it is used by jewellers, watchmakers, and other metalworkers to achieve a flawless finish on their creations.

abrasive, polishing, metalwork, lubricant, flawless finish

— Timothy Lewis