Precious Metal Clay, Also called Metal Clay, or Art Clay, is a type of Metal Clay that uses a naturally sourced binder mixed with extremely small particles of gold, platinum or silver.

Once metal clay is fired, the binder burns away leaving the metal behind, covered in a light non-toxic powder. The piece is then polished.

PMC Metal Clay is used in a similar way to Polymer Clay, it is sculpted, molded or shaped and then allowed to dry, then it is cured by heat. It can be fired in a variety of ways including in a kiln, by a small gas torch, or on a gas stove. Once fired, shrinkage of between 5% and 30% can occur depending on the brand of PMC clay you have used.

Precious Metal Clay was developed in the early 1990s in Japan by metallurgist Dr. A. Morikawa. He was looking for a practical use for left over precious metal dust, left over from other manufactuering processes.