Gold Leaf, Norfolk Inspired

The Golden Glow – How Ancient Techniques Bring Warmth to Silver

There’s a certain light in Norfolk – the kind that settles over fields and beaches in the late afternoon, turning everything a warm, hazy gold. I think of it as golden hour, though around here it lasts longer than that – especially in summer. That soft golden light was the inspiration behind my Golden Glow collection, a group of jewellery pieces that pair silver and gold in a gentle, luminous way.

One of my favourite techniques is Keum Boo (pronounced Kuom boh). It's an ancient Korean method of fusing 24ct gold to silver – no solder, no glue, just heat, pressure, and a little patience. The name translates as “attached gold,” and that’s exactly what happens: a whisper-thin layer of pure gold becomes a permanent part of the silver beneath it.

Before the gold can be applied, the silver needs a little extra attention. Sterling silver – the type I usually use – is actually an alloy: 92.5% silver mixed with 7.5% copper. For Keum Boo to work, I have to bring a layer of fine silver (99.9% pure) to the surface. That’s done through a process called depletion gilding, where I heat, quench, pickle, rinse and dry the metal – again and again, usually nine times. With each cycle, a little more copper is removed from the surface until only the fine silver remains.

Then the magic begins. I cut or tear delicate pieces of 24ct gold leaf, place them where I want them on the silver, and slowly warm the metal until the surface reaches just the right temperature. Using an agate burnisher – a beautiful, smooth tool – I gently press and smooth the gold into the silver. It fuses with the surface in a way that’s permanent, creating a lovely contrast between the two metals.

The result is subtle but rich – a soft gleam rather than a bold shine. It seems to mirror that Norfolk light so well: quiet, glowing, comforting. A pendant or pair of earrings might just catch the sun in the right way and remind you of a walk along the coast, or an evening in the garden as the sun dips behind the hedgerows.

You’ll find pieces using Keum Boo throughout the Golden Glow collection – alongside golden hearts, hoops, and gentle textures that play with the light. Each one is handmade here in the shop, polished by hand, and wrapped with care.

✨ Take a look at the Golden Glow collection on my website or pop into the shop and see them in person – they always look even better in the sunshine.

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