POLISHING IRON

The Polishing iron is a hand tool that the craftsman shapes himself in the form of a File or a Rod (baguette shape), adapted to the surface to be treated. Coated with polishing paste, it is used like a file, by rubbing, and makes it possible to achieve highly glossy polishes, notably the Polished black finish (or mirror polish) sought in high-end watchmaking. Most often made of a Metal or a material softer than the piece to be polished — such as tin, Zinc or lignum vitae —, the polishing iron holds the abrasive paste and conforms to the shape to be treated: flat, rounded, or in a Groove or at angle. Its profile is adjusted to each type of surface, whether bevels, bridge sides, or Screw heads. PolishingPolishing with the Iron, entirely manual, requires patience, consistency, and mastery of the gesture; it is among the most valued finishes, revealing the care given to the most visible components of theMovement.