What polishing actually does
It removes a very thin layer of metal so the surface is level again and reflects light properly. That is why it works — and it is also why it is not something to have done every month. There is only so much metal in a ring.
Before we start
Every stone gets pressed. Polishing puts pressure and vibration through a piece, and a stone that was already loose is a stone that leaves on the wheel. If we find one moving we tell you first and deal with it before anything else.
Finishes we will ask about
- Matte, brushed or satin — polishing removes these. If you want the texture kept, say so and we will work around it.
- Antique or oxidised detail — the dark recesses that give an engraved ring its depth. Polishing takes those out.
- Milgrain — the tiny beaded edge. Heavy polishing softens it, and it cannot come back.
- Plated pieces — the plating is thin, and polishing goes through it. We would replate rather than polish.
White gold is a separate conversation
If your white gold has gone warm or yellowish, that is not scratching — it is the rhodium plating wearing off. Polishing will not fix it. Replating will.
Questions we get asked
How long does polishing take?
Usually twenty to thirty minutes at the counter.
Will it remove all the scratches?
Most of them. Deep gouges may need more than polishing and we will tell you before we start.
Can polishing damage my ring?
Done repeatedly over years it removes metal, which is why we do not recommend it as a routine. Once in a while is fine.
My white gold looks yellow — will polishing fix it?
No. That is the rhodium wearing off and it needs replating.
Not sure we can fix it?
Send a couple of details and we will call you back. Or just walk in — it is quicker, and we can actually look at the piece.
Drop it off, shop the mall, wear it tonight
We are inside Orland Square Mall in Orland Park. Walk in during mall hours, no appointment. Most repairs are finished the same day and a good number while you wait.
Where we are
Julio's Jewelry, 800 Orland Square Drive, Orland Park, IL 60462 — inside Orland Square Mall. Mon–Thu 10am–8pm · Fri–Sat 10am–9pm · Sun 11am–6pm. We are also at North Riverside Park Mall, 7501 W Cermak Rd, North Riverside, IL 60546.