Matte Finish, The Straight Man in Jewelry Design

Calla Gold Jewelry Design Diamond and pearl Etruscan Ring

The Matte Finish Makes the Tiny Diamonds Really Pop

Shine and sparkle are like the punch line in jewelry design. Polished Jewelry is gorgeous, but it's very brightness can make you miss the point.

My husband and I loved Johnny Carson, yet I see that he needed Ed Mc Mahan as his straight man to make his punch lines sparkle.

Your ring design might need a texture like matte finish as its straight man, to set off it's sparkle, diamonds or design details.

Shine "Pushes" - Matte "Pulls"

If you've got a design with diamonds and design details galore, it's shiny amazing-ness can stop people from focusing on it. It's too much "push."

Put Some "Pull" into Your Jewelry

If you've got a pretty detail in your design, like an impressionistic figure in the gold, like in the pictured bracelet above, consider putting a matte finish around it to pull attention in. Matte finish, like the straight man in comedy sets off your gems and details. It pulls in your attention.

How to Hide that Diamond Sparkle

The Diamonds in the Field of Shiny Gold do not Stand out as Much as in the Ring at the Top of the Page

Not that you'd want to hide your diamonds, but sometimes they hide in plain sight because of gold's shine. If you've got a delicate diamond in a field of shiny gold, the gold will compete with the diamond. Its pushy shininess shoulders aside the diamond's sparkle.

It may even make it so the diamond isn't noticed. And we can't have that.

Pull Out the POP With Matte Finishing

Orange Sapphire and Diamond Necklace with matte finish

Matte Finish by the Diamonds Makes Them POP!

Matte the gold around the diamond and let the diamond's sparkle be the push in the piece. Let it glow and pop.

This just one way to shake up your under worn or tired jewelry. Or just make a change in a favorite, just for fun.

Video Examples of Matte Finish

I'm pleased to share my video with examples of more matte finished jewelry.

What's the Takeaway Message Here?

Jewelry that has something to say is more interesting. Is it more exciting? I think so. Use your design detail tools like matte finish to change the focus and punchline in your jewelry.

Your Personal Jeweler,
Calla

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Posted in Custom Design and tagged custom design

About Calla Gold

Calla Gold is a Personal Jeweler and Author who takes pride in working with clients one-on-one to integrate their personal sense of style and taste into custom designed jewelry and repaired jewelry pieces. Unlike typical Santa Barbara jewelry businesses, Calla Gold has no brick-and-mortar location. Calla Gold comes to you, bringing you the jewelry collection you want to see and collaborating with you to create unique custom jewelry. Calla also works with at-a-distance clients.

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Tracey Mikami

12 years ago

Very witty and true analogy…I love how matte and polished surfaces enhance each other. I love the bracelet…very exquisite.

Calla Gold

Author

Reply to Tracey Mikami

When I saw that bracelet and its use of matte and shine, I had to use its image. Thank you so much for your wonderful feedback.
Calla

Sue Manseau

Your photos really illustrate the concept so beautifully! Great data and very helpful. I will definitely come to you when I need that special piece of jewelry designed or purchased for me.

Thanks!

Sue

Lori Cooper

Your article made me think about something new. I love that! Before I had not given a thought to matte jewelry and how it can have such an impact–by not being Johnny Carson.

Reply to Lori Cooper

Lori,
I love that you get my references! Also that you are inspired makes my day!
Calla

Hallie

What a great article and interesting info! I never thought about that before–but of course that’s why you are the expert. I love the necklace in the last piece. Your designs are always sparkling Calla!