How each metal finish engraves (xTool IR laser)

Our jewellery is engraved using a 1064 nm infrared laser (the same type used in professional metal marking). It reacts with the metal surface and coatings to create a permanent mark rather than ink or paint. Each finish behaves a little differently:

Silver (stainless steel) – The laser creates a dark grey to almost black mark directly on the stainless steel. Because silver is highly polished and reflective, the contrast can look different depending on the angle and lighting. Front-on it appears dark and crisp; from some angles bright reflections can make it look lighter until you tilt the piece. This is the best finish for fine detail such as handwriting, fingerprints and photo engravings.

 

Black – The laser lightens or removes the black coating and reveals the silver metal underneath. This gives a bright silver engraving on a black background with very high contrast. It’s the clearest option when you want text or photos to stand out strongly, especially if the original image isn’t perfect.

 

Gold – On gold-plated stainless steel, the laser reacts with the gold coating and base metal to create a pale silver or warm grey engraving. The effect is more subtle than on silver or black. Simple text and line art show well; photo engravings appear softer with less contrast between light and dark areas.

Rose Gold – The engraving appears as a soft champagne-silver mark on the rose gold surface. This is a delicate, low-contrast finish that suits minimal designs such as names, dates and simple symbols. Very detailed or low-contrast photos will engrave with a gentle, understated look rather than a bold black-and-white effect.

Because metal coatings and plating thickness can vary slightly between batches, small variations in engraving shade are normal. If you care most about clarity and detail (especially for photos), we generally recommend choosing black or silver. If you prefer a softer, more subtle look that blends with the jewellery colour, gold or rose gold are beautiful options.