24kt Genuine Gold Leaf Sheets 80mm 3 1/8″ (transfer / patent)

Genuine Gold Leaf Sheets

Genuine gold leaf, just like any other genuine metal leaf such as real silver leaf, is a thin metal sheet. These metal sheets being used for the purposes of gilding an assortment of different surfaces with the lustre of real gold. Some such examples include a wide variety of options such as plastic, ceramic, glass, wood, paper, stone, fabric and an assortment of other materials.
Now, of course, there is a wide variety of options you can use for imitation gold leaf. However, here we talking about using top quality gold leaf that uses real gold instead of imitation gold leaf. No instead, here this is about applying genuine gold to a surface rather than any form of a replica.
The other option for genuine gold leaf though is to buy it in a patent leaf format. Also known as transfer leaf, these types of genuine gold leaf will be pressed into tissue paper or wax paper, within booklets that are slightly larger than the sheets themselves. The benefit of which is that this allows you to press the gold directly into a adhesive covered surface. Additionally, it also grants the opportunity to shape the gold leaf on the paper beforehand.

FAQ - Genuine Gold Leaf

How can you tell if gold leaf is real?

When it comes to gold leaf there are genuine and imitation options. Genuine gold leaf in particular though can be identified by the fact that it will not tarnish or become dull over time due to environmental exposure.

What is a genuine gold leaf?

Genuine gold leaf is thin sheets or flakes of gold often used for the purposes of gilding surfaces.

Is gold leafing real gold?

Gold leaf can come in either imitation or genuine variations. The latter of which can come in varying levels of purity from 12 to 24 karats.

Does genuine gold leaf tarnish?

Genuine gold will not tarnish if it is very pure. However, lower purity gold leaf may tarnish if not treated with a sealant.
Either way, when you are trying to cover a surface with gold leaf, a book of twenty five will cover approximately two square feet. Meanwhile a pack containing five hundred sheets of genuine gold leaf will cover a roughly thirty two square foot area. That said though, for a curved surface a larger quantity of gold leaf will likely be required.

Loose Leaf Sheets

Loose leaf gold is a variation of gold leaf that come in packaged in booklets. Each of which will be contained within their own individual tissue paper compartment. The result of which being that these booklets make it incredibly easy to remove and use the silver sheets in question. Following which, the gold leaf can then be dropped straight from the booklet onto your gilder's cushion. Alternatively, you can also use a gilder’s knife to carefully remove the gold leaf to place on your gilder's cushion.

Patent Sheets

The other option for genuine gold leaf though is to buy it in a patent leaf format. Also known as transfer leaf, these types of genuine gold leaf will be pressed into tissue paper or wax paper, within booklets that are slightly larger than the sheets themselves. The benefit of which is that this allows you to press the gold directly into a adhesive covered surface. Additionally, it also grants the opportunity to shape the gold leaf on the paper beforehand.