Gold & Platinum Ceramic Decals

Gold and platinum ceramic decals are transfers printed with real precious metal preparations and fired at 740-850°C, bonding genuine metallic finishes permanently into the glaze surface. Unlike metallic inks or foils, a fired precious metal decoration contains actual gold or platinum - which is why it has the depth, brilliance and permanence that imitation finishes cannot match.

What Precious Metal Decals Are Used For

Precious metal decoration is the standard for premium and luxury ceramic ware: rim bands on hotel dinnerware, accents on giftware and commemorative pieces, logo details on premium mugs, and full metallic fields on decorative tiles. It is also widely used on glass decoration at the low-fire range.

Because the material cost is real, precious metal decals are normally used as accents rather than full-coverage designs - a rim band, a crest, a signature detail that signals quality without multiplying unit cost.

Available Finishes

Bright gold

The classic polished gold finish, firing to a mirror-bright surface. Used for rims, monograms and premium branding.

Platinum

A cooler, silver-toned precious metal finish. Increasingly specified for contemporary tableware where a chrome-like accent suits the design better than gold.

Lustre and mother-of-pearl

Iridescent finishes that shift colour with viewing angle. Used for decorative accents and special-edition ware.

Durability and Care

Fired precious metal finishes are permanent - they cannot peel or wash off - but the metallic surface is softer than pigment decoration. Hand washing is recommended, and abrasive detergents or scouring will gradually dull the surface. For ware intended for commercial dishwashing, we recommend underglaze or inglaze pigment decoration instead.

How to Order

1. Send artwork showing the areas to be decorated in gold, platinum or lustre, plus ware type and quantity.
2. We confirm coverage, firing range and quote - precious metal decals are priced by metal content and coverage area.
3. You fire and approve a sample on your own ware.
4. Production, protective packing and worldwide shipping.

Send your design to sales@decalsspecialist.com for a quote, or see our overglaze dinnerware decals for full-colour options.