Namu Cho: Damascene Gold Earrings

Namu Cho is a master metalsmith, creating unique and truly rare jewels. These earrings are fabricated by him using the highly skilled technique of damascene, inlaying 24K pure gold into steel. The earring back is entirely 22K gold, and the surface is set as well with 18 diamonds to catch the light. Earrings measure 3/4″ in diamter with ireegular edges that reveal the layers of metal seen from the side, 18K gold posts.

Damascene is an inlay process in which precious metal is hammered into a background field in a free pattern. The background field is a metal surface, such as steel, that has been crosshatched to make a rough texture.
This process requires the artism to first create crisscross lines on a metal surface, which resembles a file’s surface. Gold is then tapped into the background while forming patterns.