Keum Boo Sycamore/Maple Seed Earrings Tutorial - Silver Jewellery Making Project
Learn the ancient Korean technique of Keum Boo in this step-by-step silver clay jewellery project, where you’ll transform a real sycamore or maple seed into an elegant pair of solid silver earrings with 24ct gold details.
You’ll create silicone moulds from nature, make fine silver replicas in silver clay, fabricate your own French hook earring wires, then add warm 24ct gold accents using the Keum Boo technique to create a beautiful pair of earrings that feel both sculptural and organic.
What You’ll Learn in this Silver Clay & Keum Boo Course:
Create silicone moulds using real sycamore or maple seeds
Use your silicone moulds to make silver clay replicas
Perfect the shape before firing
Fire your silver clay either with a blowtorch or a kiln
Sand, polish and refine your silver clay
Solder jump rings to your sycamore seeds
Fabricate French hook earring wires
Add 24ct gold to your earrings using the Keum Boo technique
And voilà! An elegant pair of solid silver and 24ct gold sycamore/maple seed earrings.
Ready to make this Project?
This project is part of our online membership, giving you unlimited access to all projects and tutorials. Learn at your own pace, with new projects added every month and ongoing support from award-winning jeweller Jessica.
Unlimited access to all projects, 30 day money-back guarantee, cancel any time
Have questions? check out the membership FAQs
Who Is This Silver Clay Tutorial For?
✓ Silver clay jewellers who want to learn Keum Boo and add gold accents to their work
✓ Nature lovers who want to preserve a sycamore or maple seed in precious metal, as a wearable keepsake
✓ Sellers and makers who want to offer bespoke, high-value earrings with gold details, without the cost of solid gold
What’s included in this Project?
✓ 10 Easy-to-digest video lessons
✓ Bonus technical tutorials
✓ PDF written instructions
✓ A full tools and materials list with supplier links
✓ 1-2-1 support from Jessica if you need it
Tools and Materials needed for this project:
Browse our complete UK Master tools list, USA Master tools list, or Europe Master tools list with direct supplier links
General Tools List
A cutting mat
Playing cards or silver clay spacers
Acrylic block/sheet
An acrylic roller
A doming punch or rounded clay tool
A craft knife
A set of needle files
Flat-nosed pliers
Half-round pliers
Round-nosed pliers
Side cutters/snips
A steel block
A rawhide mallet
Blu-tack
Materials List
A sycamore seed or maple seed
Silicone moulding compound
Olive oil and a small paintbrush
Plasticine
7-10g Silver Clay
Hard silver solder paillons
24ct Keum Boo foil
2 x 4mm sterling silver jump rings
2 50-60mm lengths of 0.6mm-0.8mm (20-22 gauge) round sterling silver wire
Choose between Torch and Kiln Firing
Tools for torch firing
Blowtorch
Firebrick
A timer (the one on your smartphone is perfect)
Tools for kiln firing
A kiln
A steel mesh
A firing fork
Soldering Tools List
A fire brick/soldering board
A blowtorch
A pair of brass tweezers
A pair of steel tweezers
Pickling unit and pickle
Copper tweezers/tongs
Flux and a paintbrush
Fresh water
Reverse-action tweezers
Finishing and Polishing Tools
Coarse sandpaper or emery paper
A pendant motor
Sand barrels for the pendant motor
Radial wheels for the pendant motor
A barrel polisher, polishing compound and stainless steel shot
Keum Boo Tools List
An electric hotplate
Heat resistant gloves
Brass tweezers
Fine Steel tweezers
An agate burnisher
A pair of scissors or a craft knife
Baking parchment
A steel block
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Keum Boo?
Keum Boo is an ancient Korean gilding technique where 24 carat gold foil is attached to fine silver using heat and pressure. The result is a beautiful, durable bond that creates elegant gold accents on silver jewellery. If you’d like to learn more about Keum Boo please click here to read our Guide to Keum Boo.
Can I use any kind of sycamore seed or maple seed?
Yes. Both work beautifully. Sycamore and maple seeds are very similar in shape and texture, and the process is the same for both.
Do the seeds have to be fresh or dried?
You can use either fresh or dried for this project - both work well.
Do I need a kiln or can I torch-fire?
Both options work! The project covers torch firing and kiln firing, so you can choose the method that suits your setup. Guidance is provided for both techniques.
Is 24 carat gold foil expensive?
Gold foil is surprisingly affordable because you use very small amounts. A single sheet can be used for multiple projects, making this a cost-effective way to add luxury and value to your designs. Make sure you buy proper keum boo foil though, regular gold leaf won’t work.
Do I need soldering experience?
This project includes two soldered jump rings, but if you don’t have soldering experience you can drill a small hole in your earrings for the earring wires instead. The drilling method is shown in the Silver Clay Shell Earrings Project, which is a solder-free project.
What's included in this project?
Included are 10 video lessons, a complete tools and materials list with supplier links, bonus tutorials, downloadable resources, and unlimited access to the course. You'll also get ongoing support through our community.
What type of silver clay should I use?
I demonstrate with Art Clay Silver (99.9, fine silver), but you can use any brand of fine silver clay (AMC, Prometheus, Cool Tools, etc.).
What language is this online course available in?
The video tutorials are narrated in English, with subtitles and transcripts available in English, French, German, and Spanish. All printable materials, including PDF instructions and templates are provided in English.
Ready to make this Project?
This project is part of our online membership, giving you unlimited access to all projects and tutorials. Learn at your own pace, with new projects added every month and ongoing support from award-winning jeweller Jessica.
Unlimited access to all projects, 30 day money-back guarantee, cancel any time
Have questions? check out the membership FAQs