How to make your own jewel with Colombian emeralds in Emerald By Love

Making your own jewel with emeralds can be a creative and rewarding project. If you've had a long-kept emerald and decide it's time to create a jewel with your gem at Emerald By Love we can help you.

Here are some general steps you can follow to create your own jewel with emeralds with us, whether you have the gem or want to choose it in our jewelry. Please note that jewelry creation can vary depending on the type of jewel you want to make, whether it's a ring, a necklace, some earrings, etc.

The perfect emerald

If the Colombian emerald you want to use to create your jewel is a treasure you already have this first step with, let it be taken. If, on the contrary, you want to start from scratch and choose your emerald with us then here are some tips to choose the perfect Colombian emerald.

Choosing a quality emerald means evaluating several factors, as these precious stones can vary in terms of color, clarity, size and origin. Here are some key points to consider when choosing an emerald:

1. Color:
   • Color is one of the most important factors. Look for an emerald with an intense and vibrant green. The tone must be as pure and saturated as possible. The most valued emeralds tend to have a medium to dark green hue.
2. Clarity:
   • Most emeralds will have inclusions, but the less visible ones will be more valuable. Look for a stone with inclusions that are not too obvious and do not negatively affect the general appearance of the gem.
3. Size:
   • Size is another important consideration. Large, high-quality emeralds are rare, so if you find a big stone with good color and clarity, it could be an exceptional choice.
4. Scarved:
   • The carving and shape of the emerald are also important aspects. Look for a carving that enhances the beauty of the stone and has attractive proportions.
5. Origin:
   • The place of origin can influence the quality and value of the emerald. Colombian emeralds are known for their vibrant colour and are highly valued on the market, but they are also home-of-quality emeralds in Zambia, Brazil and elsewhere.
6. Treatments:
   • Most emeralds in the market are treated to improve their appearance. The presence of treatments is not necessarily a problem, but it is important to know them and their impact on the value of stone. Emeralds are usually treated with oils to improve the appearance of inclusions.
7. Budget:
   • Define your budget before you start your search. High-quality emeralds can be expensive, but setting a spending limit will help you find the best stone within your financial possibilities.
8. Buy in Confighting Places:
   • Buy your emeralds in reliable places, preferably in jewelry stores or specialized establishments that offer certificates of authenticity and details about the characteristics of the stone.
9. Observation in Different Lights:
   • Observe the emerald in various lighting conditions to assess how it responds to the environment. This will help you better understand its color and clarity.
10. Professional advice:
    • If you have doubts, seek the help of a gemologist or jewelry expert for professional advice. They can examine the stone in detail and provide you with valuable information.

The design process

To start with creating your jewel you must first choose which piece you want to assemble it, that is, you want a ring, a saying, earrings or a bracelet. Once you define this step you can inspire yourself from some already elaborate jewel that has the same emerald size that you will wear for your creation.

If you want your design to be unique, draw a design for your jewel. Decide the arrangement of the emeralds and the general form of the piece. Remember that in this step it is important to know in what material you want to make your jewel in and in case it is a ring you must know your size.

General steps to create your jewel

1. Materials acquisition:
   • Once you have the necessary emeralds and metal according to your design, size and your preferences it's time to move on to the next step.
2. Design 3D:
   • Usually the designs that will be created from scratch or that will have a special design must first be designed in 3D so that you as a client can visualize a draft of how the jewel will look.
3. Shelsh and molds:
   • If you approved the design previously made in 3D the next step is to print the design on a wax or mould from which you can see the design with the features you requested.
4. Smelting:
   • If the wax you checked is your total pleasure the next step is the casting of the material you chose to make up the jewel. Whether your piece is simple or doesn't contain many details it is likely that steps 2 and 3 are not necessary. The jeweler will pass directly manual mold.
5. Putting emeralds:
   • Once you list the piece of the material you chose, the setting is ready to assemble the emerald and too stones in your jewel. This step, although one of the final moments of creation, is the most careful moments since if the stone is not properly set, your jewel may not remain as you imagined.
6. Finished:
   • Once set the piece is liquefied and polished to smooth the edges and give it a more polished finish.
7. Add Additional details:
   • If you want, and your design warrants it, you can add additional details to your jewel such as engravings, textures or inlays to further customize your jewelry.
8. Cleaning:
   • With last step the jewel must be cleaned to remove any residue from manufacturing, usually this process is called Steam.
9. Enjoy your Creation.
   • Finally, wear your jewel with emeralds with pride or give it to someone special as a gift.

Paula A. Bonilla 

Social communicator and journalist from Sergio Arboleda University in Colombia. She is also a jeweler and is passionate about constantly learning about precious gems and national high jewelry.

Currently, she is working for one of Bogotá's most important jewelry stores, Emerald by Love. This jewelry store has over 40 years of experience and has 2 physical branches in the capital city of Colombia, located in the city center.