Whether crafted from 18 karat gold, 22 karat gold or 24 karat gold, the subtle beauty of satin finished gold jewelry is undeniable. Even so, the meaning of the term “satin finish” is not always clear. Unlike satin clothing, satin finished fine jewelry is not shiny. While the feel of satin finished gold jewelry is smooth, its appearance is finely textured. Unlike a polished finish, which is achieved by buffing away fine lines, a satin finish is achieved by creating fine lines using a rotating wire brush applied gently across the surface of the metal. The resulting finish diffuses light, which is the opposite of a polished finish. While the allure of polished gold jewelry is difficult to ignore, a brushed satin finish enhances the sunny hue of high karat gold without the obvious flash of a shiny finish.