The Story
Emma Krafft was a German-born Templer exiled to Haifa (then Ottoman Empire, current-day Israel) in the late 19th century. When she met the head of the Ottoman railways at the Krafft family-owned Carmel hotel in Haifa, a love story was born. They married and moved to Constantinople, and the rest is history. Emma was an avid lover of jewels, many of which are still in the family to this day.
The German Templer settlement in Haifa (1910s) introduced an architectural style defined by precision, simplicity, and skilled craftsmanship. Their unique homes combined beauty with precision and meticulous detail. The Emma Krafft brand embraces this philosophy, blending old European aesthetics with a modern touch..
Qualifications include
• Master certificate in Jewellery Metalsmithing
(Mahreç Jewellery School, Istanbul)
• Certificate in Diamond Grading, Gemmological Laboratory (GLT)
• Certificate, Intaglio Carving on Transparent stones, International Jewellery School, St. Petersburg, Russia.
• Master of Design (Design Academy Eindhoven, the Netherlands)
• Bachelor of Design (York University, Toronto)
Meet the Maker
Esin Nalbantoglu (also goes by 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.
She currently lives in Istanbul with her partner and daughter, who she also named Emma :)
'Preserving tradition is the core of my design philosophy - traditions of jewellery making and also the preservation of heirloom jewellery pieces through the generations'
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.
The Studio
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.