A reflective, mirror-bright finish achieved by working through progressive abrasion grits to a fine polish. Maximum visual depth and material presence — polished brass glows, polished copper shines rose-gold, polished zirconium looks almost liquid.

The tradeoff is maintenance. Polished surfaces show fingerprints immediately and scratch visibly. For some collectors that’s unacceptable; for others, the process of keeping a polished object clean is part of the relationship with it.

Works on all metals. At its best on brass, copper, and zirconium, where the material’s visual character has somewhere to go. On titanium it reads as clean and precise; on stainless steel it reads as hard and industrial.