Career Pathways: Colin Golder

CAREER PATHWAYS: COLIN GOLDER

We recently had the pleasure of speaking with Colin Golder, Master Polisher at Hamilton & Inches in Edinburgh, for a conversation for our Career Pathways Series. Colin is an award-winning, expert polisher, and has worked for Hamilton & Inches for over 30 years. Colin’s keen eye for detail is vital to the design and production of silver in the H&I workshop, guiding how pieces are assembled to ensure they can be polished effectively. Our thanks to Colin and Hamilton & Inches for shining a light on this unique and hugely important career pathway in the jewellery and silversmithing industry.

Can you tell us a bit about your background and training?

I started working life as an apprentice plumber and completed 3.5 years and then joined Duncan Anderson plumbers for six years. I joined Hamilton & Inches on a temporary basis to help my father-in law (who worked for the company).  I am still here 31 years later.

How did you become interested in pursuing a career in the jewellery and silversmithing industry?

This was pure luck as I had no silver polishing/smithing background. It was a bit of a baptism of fire, but not long after I joined, I was sent to receive the finest of training down south. That, coupled with experience of over 30 years, means I am hopefully pretty good at my job.

What drew you to specialise in polishing?

I asked for the chance to properly retrain as a silver polisher. In Scotland polishing was never a trade that was taken seriously. All major work was done out of house. Polishing here was predominantly cleaning silver I am happy that that is changing, and a new generation are getting the opportunity to explore it as a career path via the Platinum Apprenticeship.

Can you tell us about some of the most memorable pieces you have worked on?

Our major commissions include the damaged Calcutta Cup (1988), The Scottish Open Trophy both at Loch Lomond as well as the trophy as it is used today. The Bute House Millennium Collection was incredibly important and an impressive job. We have commissioned pieces for royalty, for celebrities, authors and more. I’m proud to play my bit in bringing them to life.

Restoring the near 7-foot replica of the Scott Monument was a somewhat unusual project for us. It was found in dark, part of the Edinburgh council in the early nineties having been forgotten.

Tell us about your work at Hamilton & Inches. What is a typical day like for you?

Most of my time is taken up working on corporate or bespoke commissions that tend to be fairly complex in design and often larger than normal stock items. Of course, we have a wide array of everyday products available at Hamilton & Inches so a lot of my day is spent polishing our newly created stock or finessing some items that may have been hand-engraved or altered. My day—to-day role sees me working with an array of machinery and chemicals. You have to have your head switched on at all times to ensure both you, and the products, are safe and sound.

What advice would you give to students and young professionals interested in working within the jewellery and silversmithing industry.

If you are a hands-on perfectionist this would be a great career for you. It is incredibly specialised and a protected trade – you would become part of a small, wonderful club. Yes, it is dirty and you have to ensure safety protocols are followed at all times, but the results can be beautiful. Looking at a unique piece you have helped create, there is no better feeling. Go for it.

Images courtesy of Hamilton & Inches.