A gold ceramic glaze can mean two very different products. Real gold luster is a liquid overglaze with dissolved gold that you paint on a finished, glaze-fired pot and fire again at a very low cone. Gold-colored glazes and underglazes are ordinary glazes in gold, bronze or ochre tones that fire with the rest of your work but never look like polished metal. This guide covers both, with six picks and what each maker says about firing, microwaves, fumes and food surfaces. It is research-based: we compare maker pages, maker guides and US distributor listings, and we flag where they disagree.
Gold luster is never microwave safe: the metal can spark. Liquid luster contains solvents and gives off fumes when applied and fired, so work with ventilation and read the maker's SDS. No gold product here is a promise of food safety on your pots.
- Best real gold luster: Laguna Gold Coast LC201 (current US maker, cone 018, 5 g bottle)
- Best small bottle for a first try: Colorobbia Bright Gold Luster 8% (2 g, cone 018)
- For former Duncan users: New Mexico Clay NM801 Liquid Bright Gold (2 g, witness cone 019 to 018)
- Best one-fire gold-look glaze: AMACO PC-02 Saturation Gold (cone 5/6, dark bronze gold, heavy coat)
- Best gold-fleck glaze for functional ware: Mayco SW-178 Fool's Gold (cone 6 and 10, Dinnerware Safe mark)
- Closest to a gold underglaze: Mayco Fundamentals UG-058 Harvest Gold (cone 06 to 10, not metallic)
Gold glaze comparison table
| Product | Type | Firing (maker) | Extra firing? | Microwave | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Laguna Gold Coast LC201 | Real gold luster | Cone 018 | Yes, third firing | No | Check price |
| Colorobbia Bright Gold 8% | Real gold luster | Cone 018 | Yes, third firing | No (distributor) | Check price |
| New Mexico Clay NM801 | Real gold luster | Witness cone 019 to 018 | Yes, third firing | No | Check price |
| AMACO PC-02 Saturation Gold | Gold-look glaze | Cone 5/6 | No | Not published | Check price |
| Mayco SW-178 Fool's Gold | Glaze with gold flecks | Cone 6 ox, cone 10 reduction | No | Not published | Check price |
| Mayco UG-058 Harvest Gold | Underglaze color | Cone 06, 6, 10 | No | Not published | Check price |
Real gold luster is sold by the gram. In October 2026, 2 gram bottles ran roughly $60 to $100 at US dealers and Laguna's 5 gram bottle sat around $120 to $140; gold-colored glazes are priced like normal pints. Check the live price, because gold luster prices move with the metal.
Real gold luster vs gold-colored glaze
Gold luster is an overglaze. Makers describe it as gold suspended in an oily resin medium; the resin burns away in a low firing and leaves a thin metal film fused to the glaze underneath. It needs a glazed, already-fired surface, and it takes on that surface's character: over a gloss glaze it fires bright, over a matte glaze it fires matte gold. Mayco, Laguna and Colorobbia's US distributor all list cone 018 or cone 019 to 018. The third firing is what makes it look like real gold.
Gold-colored glazes are regular glazes. They fire once with the rest of your glaze load at cone 5/6 or cone 10. They can be beautiful, with bronze sheens or gold flecks in a brown glass, but they are glaze color, not metal. Gold underglaze is the same idea at the underglaze stage: a yellow-gold or ochre color, with no metallic shine.
Other metallic looks, such as copper, bronze and pewter glazes, are covered in the metallic glaze guide. For how lusters fit with china paints and decals, see underglaze vs overglaze. Kintsugi gold lines on mended pots are a separate, non-fired technique: see kintsugi pottery repair.
Mayco discontinued its Duncan-era overglazes (OG801 Bright Gold, OG802 White Gold, OG803 Mother of Pearl, OG805 Premium Gold and OA901 Essence) in a notice dated September 2024 and points buyers to Laguna Lusters and Colorobbia Lustres. Older guides and jars still mention those codes.
1. Laguna Gold Coast LC201: best real gold luster
With Mayco out of overglazes, Laguna is one of the two luster brands Mayco now points buyers to, and Gold Coast is its gold. Laguna's instructions are short and clear: apply with a very clean brush over a smooth glaze fired to maturity, fire the fully dried ware to cone 018 with a fast fire and the peepholes open. For a shiny result, Laguna says to use a high-gloss glaze underneath; for a matte look, use a matte glaze.
Laguna says a light, even coat gives the best results for Gold Coast, and it says not to thin luster, because thinning causes streaking and dulls the metallic effect. It recommends mineral spirits for brush cleanup and a dedicated brush. On safety, Laguna says to work in a well-ventilated area, wear a NIOSH-approved respirator, keep lusters away from heat and open flames because they are flammable, and avoid breathing fumes or kiln exhaust during firing. It points to its luster SDS sheets for the details.
Gold content is where sources differ: Laguna's designer effects page says the lusters use a 6% concentration of metal, while a US dealer (Krueger Pottery) titles the 5 gram bottle "5.5%". Laguna publishes no food or microwave statement; as with any gold, keep it out of the microwave.
- Type: real gold luster (overglaze)
- Firing: cone 018, fast fire, peepholes open
- Metal: 6% (Laguna) or 5.5% (dealer title)
- Size: 5 g bottle
- Cleanup: mineral spirits
Pros
- Current US maker
- Clear firing and safety instructions
- 5 g goes further than 2 g bottles
Cons
- High price per gram
- Flammable and fume-producing
- No food statement published
Who should skip it: Anyone without a well-ventilated kiln space, or who wants gold on mugs that go in the microwave.
2. Colorobbia Bright Gold Luster 8%: best small bottle for a first try
Colorobbia is the other luster brand Mayco recommends, and its Bright Gold comes in a 2 gram jar, which keeps the cost of a first experiment down. Colorobbia does not run a US product page that we could find, so the details here come from The Ceramic Shop, a US distributor, and Bailey Pottery's listing of Colorobbia's liquid metallics.
The Ceramic Shop's instructions match the classic method: apply one smooth coat, brush it out evenly and do not let the gold pool, then fire to cone 018. It strongly recommends a vapor respirator to avoid breathing the fumes. Its listing says overglazes can be used on surfaces that touch food and drink, but that ware decorated with gold should not go in the microwave. Bailey adds that firing temperature varies by type of ware, so check it against your clay body.
The 8% figure is the gold content in the product title. Colorobbia also sells other metallics (bronze, platinum, mother of pearl) through the same dealers, so you can test several effects in small jars. Two grams covers rims, handles and small accents, not whole pots.
- Type: real gold luster (overglaze)
- Firing: cone 018 (distributor)
- Gold: 8% (product title)
- Size: 2 g jar
- Microwave: not for microwave use (distributor)
Pros
- Small, lower-cost bottle
- Mayco-recommended brand
- Clear one-coat method
Cons
- No US maker page
- Details come from distributors
- 2 g covers accents only
Who should skip it: Potters who want maker-published instructions in hand, or want to cover large areas.
3. New Mexico Clay NM801 Liquid Bright Gold: for former Duncan users
New Mexico Clay ran the Mayco paint store and now sells gold overglazes under its own brand after Mayco's discontinuation. NM801 Liquid Bright Gold follows the old Duncan method almost word for word, which helps if your notes or class handouts were written for OG801.
Its page says not to stir or shake the overglaze, to place a little on a glazed palette and apply one smooth coat, and to brush metallics out so they do not pool. For solid coverage with Bright Gold, it suggests a yellow glaze or yellow underglaze underneath. Fire to witness cone 019 to 018 on stilts in a clean, well-ventilated kiln that is not overloaded. The page gives a useful fault check: underfired gold rubs off, and overfired gold cracks into islands.
The listing has two gaps. The page title says 7% gold and the product heading says 8%. It also says not to use Duncan Essence but then suggests Essence for wiping off mistakes. The store also lists NM805 Premium Liquid Bright Gold at 12%, out of stock when checked. The page carries a California Prop 65 warning for crystalline silica and gives no food or microwave statement.
- Type: real gold luster (overglaze)
- Firing: witness cone 019 to 018, stilted
- Gold: 7% or 8% (listing disagrees)
- Size: 2 g
Pros
- Duncan-style instructions
- Fault guide for under and overfiring
- Higher-gold NM805 option
Cons
- Inconsistent gold percentage and thinner advice on the listing
- No food statement
Who should skip it: Anyone who wants one consistent maker sheet; Laguna's page is clearer.
4. AMACO PC-02 Saturation Gold: best one-fire gold-look glaze
If you want a gold look without a third firing, PC-02 Saturation Gold is the best-known option. AMACO describes it as a smooth satin to matte finish that fires dark gold, similar to bronze. It is part of the Potter's Choice line, which AMACO lists for cone 5/6 (cone 5 at 2,167°F, 1,186°C; cone 6 at 2,232°F, 1,222°C) on bisque fired to cone 04.
AMACO's key instruction is that it needs a heavy application to develop its gold metallic finish. Thin coats will look brown. AMACO positions it for sculptural work, industrial ware and accents on artwork, not as a liner, and the product page prints no food-safe statement in its text. Treat it as a glaze for the outside of vases, sculpture and decorative pieces.
PC-02 comes in pints and gallons; AMACO notes the dry dipping version carries different health labels, so read that label if you buy dry. Its sister PC-01 Saturation Metallic is a satin metallic black that resembles steel. For Spectrum's gold glazes, see the Spectrum gold glaze review.
- Type: gold-look stoneware glaze
- Firing: cone 5/6 (Potter's Choice line), bisque cone 04
- Finish: satin to matte, dark bronze gold
- Application: heavy coat needed
- Sizes: pint, gallon
Pros
- Gold look in your normal cone 6 firing
- No luster fumes
- No extra firing
Cons
- Bronze rather than bright gold
- Needs heavy coats
- No food statement in the page text
Who should skip it: Anyone who wants mirror-bright gold, or a gold surface on the inside of mugs and bowls.
5. Mayco SW-178 Fool's Gold: best gold-fleck glaze for functional ware
Fool's Gold is a gold glaze for pottery you actually use. Mayco describes a rich brown base with tiny gold metallic flecks, glossy and semi-transparent, that breaks translucent and pools darker over texture. The gold here is a sparkle in brown glass, not a metal coat, so it suits mugs and bowls where luster would wear and could not go in a microwave.
Mayco lists cone 6 oxidation and cone 10 reduction, and at cone 10 the color darkens with metallic mottling. One coat lets the clay show through; two to three coats deepen the color. Mayco's photos are on white clay. The product page shows the Dinnerware Safe mark and the ACMI seal, and it comes in pints.
Mayco does not specify brushing versus dipping on the page, but as a Stoneware pint it is a brushing glaze. Like any glossy brown that pools, keep the bottom third a little thinner on tall pieces until you know how it moves in your kiln.
- Type: glaze with gold metallic flecks
- Firing: cone 6 oxidation, cone 10 reduction
- Coats: one to show clay; two to three for deeper color
- Label: Dinnerware Safe mark, ACMI seal
- Size: pint
Pros
- Gold sparkle in a normal firing
- Dinnerware Safe mark
- Pools nicely on texture
Cons
- Reads as brown with flecks, not gold
- Pint only
Who should skip it: Anyone who wants a solid gold surface or who fires low fire.
6. Mayco UG-058 Harvest Gold: the closest thing to a gold underglaze
People search for gold underglaze, but no underglaze fires to metallic gold: metal effects need a luster on top of fired glaze. What underglaze can give you is a gold-yellow color for painting, and Mayco's Fundamentals UG-058 Harvest Gold is a good example with a wide firing range.
Mayco lists Harvest Gold for cone 06 oxidation, cone 6 oxidation and cone 10 reduction. At cone 06 it fires matte without a clear; at cone 6 the color concentrates; at cone 10 reduction it fades. For stronger color or for dinnerware, Mayco says to apply clear or matte clear glaze over it, and names SW-001 Stoneware Clear for cone 6 and cone 10. The page lists it as dinnerware safe with a clear glaze and shows the ACMI seal. Sizes are a 4 oz jar and a pint.
There is a practical link to real gold, too: New Mexico Clay suggests a yellow glaze or yellow underglaze under Bright Gold for solid coverage. For the wider Fundamentals line, see Mayco Fundamentals underglaze.
- Type: underglaze color (not metallic)
- Firing: cone 06 ox, cone 6 ox, cone 10 reduction
- Clear: SW-001 at cone 6 and 10 (Mayco)
- Label: dinnerware safe with a clear glaze, ACMI seal
- Sizes: 4 oz, pint
Pros
- Wide firing range
- Paints fine detail
- A good base under gold luster
Cons
- Not metallic
- Fades at cone 10 reduction
Who should skip it: Anyone expecting shine from an underglaze alone.
How to apply and fire gold luster
These steps combine what Laguna, Mayco's former guide, New Mexico Clay and the Colorobbia distributor publish. Always follow the instructions and SDS for the bottle you buy.
- Start with a pot that is already glaze fired. A glossy glaze gives bright gold; a matte glaze gives matte gold.
- Clean the area so it is free of dust and finger oils, and work in a clean, dust-free, well-ventilated room. Laguna recommends a NIOSH-approved respirator.
- Do not stir or shake the bottle. Use a clean, dry brush kept only for luster.
- Apply one smooth, light coat and brush it out so it does not pool. The wet color is not gold: Mayco's guide said Bright Gold looks brown and Premium Gold red when applied correctly.
- Let it dry (Mayco's guide said about one hour), then load on stilts in a clean kiln that is not overloaded.
- Fire to cone 018 (Laguna, Colorobbia distributor) or witness cone 019 to 018 (Mayco, New Mexico Clay). Laguna says to fire fast with peepholes open. Stay out of the kiln room during the firing unless the kiln is vented.
- Clean brushes with the cleaner the maker names (Laguna: mineral spirits).
Makers publish cones, not degrees, for this firing. Lakeside Pottery describes its cone 018 gold firing as about 1,300°F (704°C); the pottery cone chart explains why the exact temperature depends on heating rate. A kiln vent is worth having before you fire lusters indoors.
Gold pottery glaze and food: what makers say
Makers do not agree on gold and food, so read the label on your exact bottle. Mayco's former overglaze guide said gold overglazes can be used on surfaces that contact food and drink, but should not go in microwave ovens, and warned that the gold will eventually wear away with dishwasher use and hard scrubbing. The Ceramic Shop says the same for Colorobbia. Laguna publishes no food or microwave statement for its lusters.
Gold-colored glazes are labeled like any glaze. Mayco shows a Dinnerware Safe mark on SW-178 Fool's Gold; AMACO's PC-02 page text gives no food-safe statement and AMACO positions it for sculpture and accents.
No label is a promise about your pot. Results depend on firing to the stated cone, application and testing. Gold luster must never go in a microwave, and many potters keep it off lips and eating surfaces, where it wears fastest. The food safe glaze guide covers testing.
How to choose gold glaze for pottery
Real metal or gold color
If you want something that reads as gold leaf from across the room, only luster will do it. If you want warmth and sparkle that survives daily use, choose a gold-colored glaze like Fool's Gold or Saturation Gold.
Your kiln and the extra firing
Luster needs a third firing at a very low cone. Most electric kilns with a digital controller can fire cone 018, but check your controller manual for low-fire programs. Luster fumes need ventilation; a kiln in a living space without a vent is a poor match.
The base glaze
Luster copies the surface below it. A smooth gloss glaze, such as a low-fire clear Mayco lists as luster compatible (S-2101), gives the brightest gold. Rough or matte glazes give a soft gold. New Mexico Clay suggests yellow underneath for solid Bright Gold coverage.
Where the gold goes
Rims, handles and small accents are the usual places. Lip contact and dishwashers wear luster, and microwaves are off limits, so think about how the pot will be used before choosing where to paint it.
Budget and bottle size
Luster is priced by the gram, and 2 grams covers accents, not whole pots. Buy the smallest bottle first and test on a tile or a second-quality pot. Mayco's former guide also said not to stir or shake, which means the bottle needs careful storage, capped and upright.
Other metallic effects
White gold, platinum and mother of pearl use the same method. Mayco's guide said that when combining gold and mother of pearl, apply and fire the gold first, then the mother of pearl at cone 020. Mayco's Opal Lustre line has its own review: Mayco Opal Lustre.
Common gold luster mistakes
Purple, streaky or patchy gold: the coat was too thin or uneven. Add another smooth coat and refire.
Gold that rubs off: underfired, per New Mexico Clay. Check a witness cone.
Gold cracked into islands: overfired, per New Mexico Clay.
Drips on vertical surfaces: too much luster in one spot; brush it out.
Dull gold on a shiny pot: dust, oils or a dirty brush. Clean the surface and keep a brush only for luster.
Safety notes
Liquid luster contains solvents and is flammable: keep it away from heat and open flames, work with good ventilation, and wear a NIOSH-approved respirator as Laguna advises. Avoid breathing kiln fumes during the luster firing, and vent the kiln as its maker specifies. Read the SDS for your bottle before use. Glaze-colored products contain silica once dry, so wet-clean your work area. Never microwave gold-decorated ware, and never promise anyone a gold-decorated pot is food safe.
Sources: Mayco Overglazes page (discontinuation notice) and Mayco Overglazes Info Guide PDF; Laguna Lusters and Designer Effects pages; Krueger Pottery listing for Laguna Gold Coast LC201; The Ceramic Shop listing for Colorobbia Bright Gold Luster 8%; Bailey Pottery listing for Colorobbia Premium Bright Gold Luster; New Mexico Clay (maycopaintstore.com) Lusters and Overglazes page and NM801 Liquid Bright Gold page; AMACO PC-02 Saturation Gold, PC-01 Saturation Metallic and Potter's Choice line pages; Mayco product pages for SW-178 Fool's Gold and UG-058 Harvest Gold; Ceramic Arts Network "How to Use Ceramic Luster Glaze" and Pottery Making Illustrated "Luster 101"; Lakeside Pottery gold luster page. Specs checked October 2026.