The Studio

 

Esin Nalbantoglu (also known as Emma), founder of the Emma Krafft brand, is the great-granddaughter of Emma Krafft. On her father’s side, she descends from a Circassian line of metalsmiths, with her surname meaning “son of a horseshoe maker.” Born in Turkey, she grew up in the USA and Singapore and studied in Canada and the Netherlands, a global influence reflected in her work.

Before becoming a jeweler, Esin had a successful career as a graphic designer and Art Director, earning international awards. She later trained for six years as a metalsmith and stone setter in Istanbul’s Grand Bazaar, establishing her Karaköy studio in 2018. Each piece is meticulously designed—either hand-carved in wax or drawn in 3D—then polished, engraved, and set using traditional goldsmithing techniques.

'Preserving tradition is the core of my design philosophy - traditions of jewellery making and also the preservation of heirloom jewellery pieces through the generations'

 

 

Handmade and Ethical

With the expertise of a professional designer and certified jeweler, every piece is handcrafted in Istanbul using traditional metalsmithing techniques. Unlike machine-made jewelry, handmade pieces carry the maker’s spirit and are more environmentally ethical.

Rooted in family traditions, each design is created to be cherished and passed down as an heirloom. Ethical sourcing and sustainable practices ensure that stones and materials are carefully selected, reused, and recycled whenever possible—always meeting the highest design standards.

 

Local and Traditional Making

Located in the heart of Istanbul, the Grand Bazaar is one of the world’s oldest and largest jewelry hubs, with over five centuries of craft and trade history.

Trained by master craftsmen, Emma Krafft Jewellery is dedicated to preserving traditional jewelry-making through a modern design lens. As machine production overtakes handmade techniques, supporting new-generation artisans is essential to keeping these centuries-old traditions alive.

Our studio is nestled in a historic stone building in the heart of Karaköy in central Istanbul. Here, we design and craft each piece with care. We love meeting new people and sharing our work—contact us to schedule an appointment.