Polishing Jewellery Q&A With Stephen M Goldsmith

We are so excited to collaborate with Master Polisher, Stephen M Goldsmith on this highly anticipated Polishing Q&A!

Stephen is a professional polisher, with 50 years in the trade where he has polished a huge range of items from high-end jewellery to royal and historical items. Today he is passionate about keeping the art of polishing alive and passing on his knowledge of this craft - which is clearly shown by his first published book Polishing And Finishing For Jewellers And Silversmiths which is available to buy on our website.

This Q&A is filled with a detailed look into the polishing process, with brilliant tips and advice along the way. Thank you to everyone who got involved with sending in your questions - there were so many that we couldn't answer them all but Stephen has tried his best to cover a range of topics with the most commonly asked questions. All of the submitted questions were also put into a competition draw to win a signed copy of Stephen's popular book - the winner is announced in the video below!

Watch Stephen's Polishing Q&A

Stephen Visited Us At Kernowcraft HQ!

We were thrilled to welcome Stephen to Kernowcraft in sunny Cornwall and finally meet the Polishing Guru in person where he signed the winner's book.

Polishing And Finishing For Jewellers - Stephen M Goldsmith

Polishing And Finishing For Jewellers And Silversmiths

Polishing And Finishing For Jewellers And Silversmiths is an invaluable and practical guide to the polishing process. Written by a leading master polisher Stephen M Goldsmith, this book explains the traditional techniques and shares the secrets of this often under-rated craft. Never forget that a professional finish will transform a piece of jewellery or silver into a work of art! Book highlights include advice on setting up your workshop, a guide on finishing methods, step by step examples as well as best practices for beginners.

Look Inside This Popular Book!

Read Our Interview With Stephen & Hear His Story

Want to hear more about Stephen's background and experiences in the polishing industry? Read our interview where we find out how Stephen's career began, more about the fascinating items he has polished and the inspiration behind his book loved by jewellers.

Follow Stephen on Instagram

Explore Sanding, Polishing & Cleaning Supplies With Kernowcraft

Our top investments

Dremel Multi Tool

If you are serious about making jewellery, the Dremel 4250 Multi Tool is one tool you simply can't do without. It's one of the most universal tools on the market, this is an excellent, high quality and robust tool, ideal for both hobbyists and dedicated jewellery makers - at a very affordable price.

The multi tool enables precise, detailed work. Despite its small size it is surprisingly powerful and offers numerous possibilities due to the many accessories enabling detailed sanding, carving, cutting, grinding, cleaning and polishing.

Offering numerous possibilities due to the multitude of accessories, enabling detailed sanding, carving, engraving, cutting, grinding, cleaning and polishing. Don't forget to check out our wide range of accessories that fit the Dremel, including silicon polishers in wheel, knife edg e and cylinder shapes, polishing mops and more.

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Barrelling Machine Kit for Polishing Metal

This barrelling machine kit comes with everything you need to tumble polish your metal jewellery. This machine works by 'tumbling' stainless steel shot around in the spinning barrel which then impacts your jewellery - acting like tiny hammers planishing the surface of the metal, polishing it to a high shine. It will totally transform your pieces, giving them a professional finish as well as saving you time and effort at your workbench!

Don't Forget To Protect Your Hands & Eyes

As Stephen discusses in the Q&A video above, your hands and eyes are your greatest tools and ones you need to look after when making your handmade jewellery designs. Check out some of our top protection supplies below, including the O'Keefe's Working Hands Hand Cream which Stephen mentions in the Q&A.

Safety Goggles

Wearing eye protection is so important. Jewellery making involves a lot of dust, debris and sometimes flying metal! So ensure your eyes are well protected to prevent accidents.

O'Keefe's Working Hands Hand Cream

This hand cream is raved about in the jewellery making community. Use it to heal cracks, dry skin and sore fingers after a long day at the bench. It is also great for leaving a protective barrier on your skin that locks in moisture!

Alligator Finger Protection Tape

Another favourite among jewellers is alligator tape. Wrap it around your fingers to protect and improve your grip during jewellery making and other craftwork.

Keep Learning With Our Tutorial & Advice Pages

In the brilliant Polishing Q&A video, Stephen covered a whole range of topics! Learn more about the products and techniques mentioned below, where we go into further detail. You will also find links to tools and products mentioned for the polishing process.

Guide To Sanding & Polishing

From the importance of preparation, top tools to finger protection! We share our helpful guide on the many factors to consider for the polishing process.

Shop our range of polishing tools and supplies

Polishing By Hand

If you're at the beginning of your polishing journey and don't want to reach for power tools just yet, you may like to try our popular polishing papers! Simply work through the colour grades to achieve a shiny finish.

Shop our polishing papers

Everything You Need To Know About The Barrelling Machine

Read our in-depth guide to the barrelling machine, this kit is a great investment for achieving a professional polish and finish.

Shop Barrelling Machine Kit

How To Prevent & Remove Fire Scale & Fire Stain

Find out the difference between fire scale and fire stain, how to remove it and the prevention methods you can use to avoid it from happening!

Shop our range of sanding, polishing & cleaning tools and supplies

How To Create A Patina With Liver Of Sulphur

Creating a patina is one of our favourite techniques! Learn more about this method of achieving an antique look on metal - perfect for making textures pop.

Shop liver of sulphur

Also in this section:

HAVE A QUESTION?

If you have any questions, feel free to get in touch with our friendly team who will be more than happy to give you advice over email or on the phone.

You can learn more and find inspiration by visiting our Jewellery Making Tutorials, Jewellery Making Kits and YouTube Channel. Don't forget to follow us on social media and tag us in your designs on Instagram & Facebook, we would love to see!

What Our Customers Say...

Christine Wood

Just want to say a very big thank you for your quick delivery and excellent service. The stones I ordered arrived this morning, the quality and price are second to none. I was delighted with my purchase. Thank you so much.

Jill Hammersely

I just wanted to say a massive thank you to the team, particularly the ladies that helped me yesterday. Delivery took less than 24hrs, that's amazing. The quality of both cabochons and settings are stunning.

Lynn Carson

I bought the sand dollar charm to make a holiday bracelet. It’s really lovely, subtle and pretty detail. Perfect piece and exactly as described.

Denise Mountain Pike

I recently ordered a couple of replacement stones from you and I'd just like to say how happy I am with my purchase and very impressed with the friendly helpful service you gave. Thank you very much.

Daniel Coe

The customer service I have received from you and the help has been second to none. If only all companies were so helpful and understanding that i am a complete newbie. The retail world would be a better place.

Jenny Kirkwood

Love the service you get and appreciate the range of products on offer. I just used the alligator tape for the first time and found myself asking - where have you been all my life?

Claire Hall

Kernowcraft is my go to for all my gemstones! Their stones are the first ones I show when offering my clients stone choices and I can't recommend their customer service enough! This is a company that cares!

Joel Martin

Great, easy to navigate website with wonderful clear photographs. I look forward to receiving my order... it's going to be like Christmas!

Frank Wilson

It is always a joy to deal with your Company and your hints and tips always help me to improve my skills and encourage my interests. Thank you for caring about us small enthusiastic silversmiths!

George Inglis

Great looking website, one of the best I've seen and used. Good search function, good range of products, good prices and great advice for jewellery makers of all abilities. All-in-all a great site and one I'll use again and again.

Hayley Meredith

I just wanted to say thank you for the amazing service from Kernowcraft. I find your website easy to navigate, products good quality and the delivery is second to none!

Vivienne Sadler

Always too many temptations, but a joy to look through. Thank you for such good service. I have to be very strict with myself when I visit your website!

Rhiannon Piper

The opal I received is absolutely amazing and just perfect. Its such a beautiful stone and I tried it with my wedding dress yesterday and its just set it off so well.

Frank Wilson

I have grown as a jewellery maker over the last year or so due to the encouragement the team have given me - they are all experienced jewellery makers or keen crafters. They have helped to guide me through my inventory, offered helpful tips and advice on all manner of silver working.

Lenna

Hi, just a quick email to thank you for my cross and chain - I love it. What a speedy service - ordered it yesterday and wearing it tonight. Thank you very much.

Jaquie

It can be difficult to order gemstones online - no such worries with Kernowcraft - you really do care about your products & clients and it shows.

Lydia Farrow

Just to say that I have always had the best possible results for every order - however small and all your products are of excellent quality.

Marshal

Thank you to the lady who went to a great deal of trouble to find a very small opal that fitted a bezel cup. The work is now complete and looks very nice - my wife is delighted with the result.

Deborah Roberts-Barter

I have sent a couple of email enquiries today, which have been really quickly answered. This customer service is what made me order with you straight away!

Gloria Williams

I just came across your online shop and my first reaction was wow! It has everything i need to carry on with my jewellery making. I've seen things that i have been looking for and couldn't find in so many other shops!

Catherine Warwick

Just received my order that I placed only yesterday. I wanted to say thank you! I am delighted with the choice of cabochon, setting and books. Now I have to read up on how to set it! FABULOUS SERVICE - Thank you!

Mihaela Ciubotaru

I am very happy with my products... it is wonderful to have a reliable source of materials and gems with a fast delivery and a lot of tips on how to use the tools we buy.

Eve

The stones are excellent quality, and the special request I put in for dark citrines and paired malachites has been met perfectly. I am delighted with Kernowcraft, and will be back!

Helen Bowles

I felt compelled to write to you, as I'm so impressed with your quick service! I've been a Kernowcraft customer for years and have never had anything but reliable, efficient service from you.

Kim Thomson

I have been using Kernowcraft since 1997 and still regularly recommend them to all my students.

I added a special request for moonstones with strong blue/green flashes and received 3 briolettes which were exactly that - some of the prettiest moonstones I’ve seen. Thank you!

April Luescher

Beautiful quality and colours - I rarely buy semi-precious stones anywhere else these days. Very helpful, superb service, speedy delivery. What more could anyone want?

Lauren Jodie Piercy

Beautiful gemstones and a lot of choice. Running competitions and being interactive as well really sets them apart. Keep up the interesting content.

Claire

I just wanted to say a big thank you for the beautiful sapphires that arrived today. Hannah picked out just what I wanted and I’m over the moon with them.

Maggi Henman

I’ve just had my first order from you and I am so pleased with the fast delivery and the quality of the products. The satin cords and the findings really finished off my ceramic jewellery.

Catriona

Thank you for my recent order as I'm blown away by all the lovely pieces. I don't really know what to start work on first. Thank you for supplying top quality items on a easy to use website.

Sarah Tiley

Whenever I feel unsure as to where to purchase any stones or jewellery requirements I always go back to what is familiar. Thank you Kernowcraft for being true to your customers.

Helen

Just wanted to say thank you for picking such beautiful stones for my order. I'm halfway through making a ring for my daughter and the rose cut rainbow moonstones are particularly yummy. Thank you!

Dorota Todd

I just wanted to say how impressed I am with the quality of pearls in my recent order! Thank you so much for taking time and matching them into pairs, it's very appreciated. Thank you and I am definitely going to buy at your store in the future.

Julia Schofield

I’ve used Kernowcraft as a supplier for findings and pearls since beginning my business 8 years ago, because I know I can absolutely rely on the quality I get. The service is pretty impeccable too.

Janice Scragg

Your website is easy to use, your products excellent, nice friendly service on the phone and delivery quick, excellent. Thank you and well done Kernowcraft. Gold star!