About Emi Conner Jewelry
A boutique fine jewelry house where Thai craftmanship meets modern, deeply personal design. Each piece is handcrafted in small batches and thoughtfully crafted to celebrate meaningful moments and last for generations.
At ECJ, we believe every piece should do more than sparkle--it should hold a story, honor your milestones, and be crafted with the care you deserve.
Small-Batch Craftsmanship
Heritage + Modern Design
Ehtically-Minded Materials
Accessible Fine Jewelry
Where It All Began
I was born in Korat, Thailand—my name, Emi (“eh-mee”), meaning beautiful blessing. My journey began in a lively city just a few hours from Bangkok, where I grew up surrounded by the warmth of Thai culture, strong family roots, and a deep appreciation for beauty, detail, and creativity.
In 2005, life brought me to the United States, where I began building a new life filled with possibilities.
After nearly a decade working in IT, I felt a growing pull back to creativity and my love for nature. That spark ignited in 2010 when I received a simple hematite ring. Something about its energy, color, and presence awakened a deep fascination with gemstones and the beauty they carry.
A Call To Create
I began teaching myself the fundamentals of jewelry making through late nights spent practicing metalwork, soldering, and learning to identify gemstones. As my passion grew, I left my IT job to pursue jewelry school full time, dedicating myself fully to the craft. I continued my training at Stewart’s International School for Jewelers in Florida, where I developed skills in casting, diamond setting, and jewelry repair.
In 2012, I launched Emi Conner Jewelry, starting at my own workbench by designing, soldering, polishing, and setting every stone by hand. I wanted each piece to feel meaningful, intentional, and crafted with heart.
Honoring Heritage Through Craft
As ECJ grew, in 2018 I expanded production back to my roots. Thailand—renowned worldwide for gemstone cutting and fine-jewelry craftsmanship—became the natural home for my artisan team. Partnering with master Thai jewelers allows me to honor my heritage while ensuring every design is brought to life with exceptional skill and care.
Today, ECJ is a small, women-led jewelry house based in my Virginia studio, supported by a dedicated team of Thai artisans. Together, we create fine jewelry designed to carry light, beauty, and intention into the lives of those who wear it.
Our Core Values
Love
Caring
Quality
Integrity & Sustainability
We are committed to transparency and ethical practices, ensuring our customers feel confident in their choices. This includes using conflict-free gold and partnering with trusted casting companies. Our primary casting partners, UnitedPM (Bangkok Location) and Stuller, are both SCS-certified for 100% recycled precious metals.
While our natural diamond suppliers adhere to the Kimberley Process, we recognize that it remains an imperfect system. Because integrity matters deeply to us, we choose to go further. We proudly offer lab-grown diamonds across all designs, giving you the option to select brilliance that is more ethical, more transparent, and more environmentally conscious. These diamonds offer the same fire, beauty, and durability, paired with a modern story grounded in responsibility and clarity.
The journey of a natural gemstone can be complex, and full traceability across the industry remains a challenge. We approach this reality with transparency and care. Whenever possible, we share what we know, including origins, treatments, and sourcing insights, so you can make informed choices with confidence.
We also offer lab-created gemstones as a more ethical and accessible option. These stones provide the same beauty and quality in richly colored gemstones while reducing environmental impact and increasing affordability. This allows you to choose refined luxury aligned with both your values and your personal style.
Integrity is at the heart of everything we create.
We honor the artisans who bring each design to life, the customers who place their trust in us, and the planet that inspires our work. By embedding transparency and responsibility into every decision, we create jewelry that offers more than radiant beauty. Each piece carries meaning, intention, and the assurance that it was crafted with respect for people, for the Earth, and for the story it becomes part of.
Emi ("eh-mee”)
The vision behind ECJ. Emi blends Thai heritage with modern refinement to create meaningful, timeless designs from her Virginia studio.
Mike
The quiet strength behind ECJ. Mike supports every part of the business with steady leadership, ensuring everything runs smoothly so the creative side of ECJ can thrive.
Art Chutchai
Transforms Emi’s ideas into precise CAD models and manages the full production flow between studio and artisans.
Esther Schulze
Our digital storyteller. Esther, founder of Ehope Marketing, manages ECJ’s social media by sharing our designs and behind-the-scenes moments, connecting the brand with our community.
Somkeit
With over 30 years of experience, Somkeit hand-carves each wax model using traditional wax carving techniques, bringing Emi’s vision to life while creating the perfect foundation and silhouette for every ECJ design.
© 2026 Emi Conner Jewelry
