Home » Beading Definition: Jeweller's Rouge
Jeweller's Rouge
Jeweller's Rouge is a very fine powder of ferric oxide -- otherwise known as iron oxide(III) or, simply, rust -- that is used to put the final polish on metallic jewellery.
Rouge cuts a bit slower than some modern polishes, such as cerium(IV) oxide, but is still preferred by most jewellers for the superior finish it can produce. When polishing gold, the rouge slightly stains the gold, which contributes to the appearance of the finished piece. Rouge is sold as a powder, a paste, laced on polishing cloths, or as a solid bar (with a grease or wax binder). Other polishing compounds are also often called "rouge", even when they do not contain ferric oxide. Jewellers remove the residual rouge on jewelry by use of ultrasonic cleaning.
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