A matte finish is a surface treatment applied to precious metal that scatters incident light rather than reflecting it directly, producing a soft, non-glossy appearance. In the jewellery trade the term is used in opposition to a high polish, and it is one of the principal decorative finishes available to the bench jeweller alongside satin, brushed, hammered and sandblasted textures.

The effect is achieved by introducing controlled microscopic irregularities to the metal surface. Common methods include sandblasting with fine aluminium oxide or glass-bead media, treatment with a fine abrasive wheel or wire brush, and application of a chemical etch. Each technique yields a slightly different visual character: sandblasting produces a uniform, granular surface, while a wire brush leaves directional marks that read as a softer, slightly satiny matte.

Matte finishes are favoured in contemporary design because they reduce surface scratches' visibility on softer metals such as 18-karat gold and platinum, where a mirror polish telegraphs every minor abrasion. They also create useful contrast in mixed-finish pieces, allowing a polished bezel or bright-cut accent to read more emphatically against a quieter ground. The finish is, however, not permanent: it can be polished out at the bench and must be refreshed periodically when restoration is desired.