05/04/2026
Goldsmithing is one of those trades that carries thousands of years of history in every piece, and I love that.
Even now, it’s still fire, hand tools, and patience at the bench. Gold is incredible to work with too. One gram can be hammered out to almost a square metre, can be drawn into fine wire thinner than hair, and it won’t tarnish. What you make out of gold can last generations.
Some tools & methods may have evolved, but the core skills haven’t. Sawing, filing, soldering, stone setting, they’re all hands-on and take real skill and experience. A good setting isn’t just about holding a stone, it’s about protecting it and making it look effortless.
A few favourites:
• Pure gold is soft enough to bend with your fingers.
• It doesn’t rust, tarnish, or corrode, ever! It can be melted and reused again and again.
• You can alloy gold to change its colour. Yellow, white, rose, even green tones.
• Every time you melt and remake gold, you’re continuing its story, not starting from scratch.
• The oldest known gold jewellery is over 6,000 years old.
For me, it’s all in the bench work. The slow, careful finishing. This craft will always show if you’ve taken a shortcut.
And that’s the difference. Not just how it looks when a piece is completed, but how it lasts. 💛
