Janet Leitch Jewellery is one of those shops that rewards a slower look. An independent jeweller based in Saltaire, it is the work of a traditionally trained silversmith who has spent years developing a very particular way of working with silver: heavily textured surfaces, oxidised finishes, and an occasional shot of fused 24-carat gold. The result is jewellery that has real presence without ever feeling overdone.
- Specialism: Handmade fine silver and sterling silver jewellery, designed and made by Janet Leitch
- Style: Contemporary and wearable, with strong surface texture. Edgy but classy is how Janet describes it herself
- Techniques: Oxidisation, keum boo gold fusion, concave and relief texturing
- Materials: Fine silver, sterling silver, recycled precious metals, 24-carat gold detail
- Good for: Considered gifts, special occasions, or buying something genuinely original for yourself
The Jewellery: What You Will Find
The range covers earrings, necklaces and pendants, all made by hand using traditional silversmithing methods. What sets them apart is the surface work. Janet Leitch builds texture from scratch, taking inspiration from patterns observed in natural and built environments, then develops those textures into finished pieces that feel deliberate rather than merely decorative.
Some pieces are oxidised to a dark, smoky finish. Others carry the warm glint of keum boo, a Korean technique that fuses 24-carat gold onto silver using heat and pressure. The effect is one of warmth and depth, quite unlike the flat brightness of conventional silver jewellery.
Recycled precious metals feature throughout the collection, which matters to buyers who want to know where their materials come from. Each piece takes genuine time to produce, and the price point reflects that: fair for the craft involved, neither cheap nor extravagant.
Why This Kind of Shop Matters
High street jewellers handle the lower and mid-range market well enough. But a designer-maker is something different. When you buy from Janet Leitch Jewellery, you are buying something that was planned, made, and finished by one person with a clear creative point of view.
That kind of individual authorship is exactly what distinguishes the best independent retailers from the chains. You can find plenty of examples across independent shops on ShopAppy, and the theme is consistent: the shops worth seeking out are those where someone made a genuine choice about what to sell and how to sell it. Similar craft-led independent retail communities have developed in towns such as those covered by our Barnsley independent shops guide, where maker-led businesses continue to attract dedicated shoppers.
Saltaire: An Apt Setting for a Craft Business
Saltaire is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, a Victorian model village laid out in the 1850s by the textile magnate Sir Titus Salt alongside his new worsted mill on the River Aire. The ambition of the original project still reads in the stone terraces, the mill itself, and the sense of a place designed rather than accumulated.
That heritage has made it a natural home for independent shops and creative businesses. Salts Mill houses galleries, design retail and cafes. The surrounding streets support a range of independents you would not find in an out-of-town retail development. Independent shops in Saltaire draw visitors from across Bradford, Leeds and further afield, because the offer here is genuinely different from anywhere else in West Yorkshire.
For a craft jeweller, this setting makes good sense. Buyers in Saltaire tend to understand what handmade means in practice, and the town attracts exactly the kind of curious, culturally engaged visitor who is likely to stop, look carefully, and buy something that will last.
Getting Here and Visiting
Saltaire is easy to reach. It sits just off the A650 between Shipley and Bingley, with its own railway station on the Airedale Line and regular trains from Leeds and Bradford Forster Square. The village is compact enough to walk from one end to the other in under twenty minutes.
Most visitors combine a trip to Salts Mill with a walk through the independent shops on the surrounding streets. It is always worth checking Janet Leitch Jewellery’s current opening hours directly before you travel, as smaller studio-led retailers sometimes adjust their schedules around craft fairs and making commitments.
What materials does Janet Leitch use?
The jewellery is made in fine silver and sterling silver, with recycled precious metals used throughout the collection where possible. Many pieces also incorporate 24-carat gold detail, applied using the keum boo technique.
What is keum boo?
Keum boo is a traditional Korean goldsmithing technique that bonds fine gold foil to silver using heat and pressure, without solder or adhesives. It creates a permanent, warm gold accent that is fused into the surface of the metal rather than sitting on top of it.
Is the jewellery hallmarked?
Yes. The pieces are hallmarked, meaning they have been independently assayed and stamped to confirm the metal content. This is standard practice for a professional silversmith working to UK standards, and it is the mark you should look for when buying silver jewellery.
Can I commission a bespoke piece?
Janet Leitch takes wholesale and bespoke commissions alongside the core collection. For specific requests, contact the shop directly to discuss what is possible and current lead times.