Bogota: Make Your Own Emerald Ring in Jewelry District Workshop

Summary

Design and create your own emerald ring in Bogota’s lively jewelry quarter, guided by a local orfebre and surrounded by the city’s “green gold” stories

You’ll walk Bogota’s buzzing emerald district with a local guide, learn why these stones matter so much here, and then sit down at a real jeweler’s bench to design and craft your own Colombian emerald ring. Expect laughter over mispronounced words and a keepsake that feels genuinely yours.

What’s the experience like?

I’ll admit, I didn’t know much about emeralds before this — just that Colombia is famous for them. But walking into the jewelry district of Bogota, it hits you: the noise of hammers on metal, the way everyone seems to be talking with their hands, flashes of green in shop windows. Our guide, Andrés, started us off with stories about how emeralds shaped Colombia long before colonists showed up. He had this way of making history feel personal — like he’d grown up with these stones in his pocket.

We wandered through the market where dealers eyed us (not unfriendly, just curious) and I tried to guess which stones were valuable. Spoiler: I was wrong every time. The air smelled a bit metallic, mixed with something sweet from a nearby café. When we got to the workshop, there was this moment — hands-on tools laid out, a tray of rough stones — where it hit me that I was actually going to make my own emerald ring. The orfebre showed me how to hold the file properly (my first try was… not graceful), and let me pick my stone. I went for one that wasn’t perfect — a little cloudy — but it felt right.

I still think about how focused I got filing down silver, barely noticing time passing while Andrés chatted with another traveler about family superstitions around emeralds. There was laughter when I tried to pronounce “orfebre” and butchered it (he just grinned). It wasn’t just about making jewelry; it was seeing how these stones fit into people’s lives here. By the end, my ring wasn’t flawless but honestly? That made it feel more mine.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1 — Create your own Colombian emerald ring

• Introduction to emerald history
• Tour emerald and jewelry district
• Visit emerald market
• Design your ring with expert
• Create ring with jewelry master

Top questions

How long does the create your own Colombian emerald ring activity take?

The exact duration isn’t listed but expect several hours including walking the district and time at the workshop.

Is this emerald ring workshop suitable for beginners?

Yes, all skill levels are welcome and you get step-by-step guidance from an orfebre (jewelry master).

Are tools provided during the jewelry workshop?

Yes, all necessary tools for making your ring are included at the workshop.

Can children join this Bogotá emerald experience?

Yes, infants and small children can join; strollers and specialized infant seats are available.

Do I get to choose my own stone and ring design?

Yes, you decide on both the design and which Colombian emerald you want to use for your ring.

Where does this activity take place in Bogotá?

The experience happens in Bogotá’s central jewelry and emerald district.

What’s included

Your day includes an introduction to Colombia’s emerald history as you walk through Bogota’s jewelry district with a local guide, entry into an authentic workshop where all tools are provided for you to craft your own ring from start to finish — plus personal help from a master jeweler as you choose your stone and design.