Dubai-based gemmologist Jade Romero is redefining bespoke fine jewelry through transparency, collaboration and deeply personal design.

As the founder of Dubai-based Jade Romero Studio, GIA-certified gemmologist Jade Romero crafts one-of-a-kind engagement rings, heirloom pieces and sentiment-infused designs. Working closely with her clients through deeply personal consultations, she guides them through the process, ensuring every detail is exactly what they are looking for.

Her style of jewelry isn’t overly glitzy or in-your-face, rather much more refined and somewhat unexpected for this region. Her love of antique jewelry is what first drew her into this world. “Antique jewelry is what truly drew me into the industry. I absolutely love it, and it’s where I get a lot of my design inspiration. My uncle is a professional metal detectorist, and so I’ve always been fascinated by jewelry and gold that has survived wars, migrations and generations.”

That fascination eventually evolved into a career path and later an entrepreneurial pursuit. After working with a number of jewelry brands, Romero found herself questioning the traditional buying process. “I found it often felt quite functional. At the same time, I felt Dubai was lacking deeper expertise and education around gemstones and craftsmanship.” Becoming GIA-certified provided the technical grounding she sought, and launching her own studio was the natural progression. “I wanted to create pieces where education, transparency and design all sit together. No smoke and mirrors. Just beautiful, exceptionally well-made jewelry with that antique level of quality.”

As a trained gemmologist, Jade guides clients from the first sketch to the final piece, demystifying everything from diamond selection to design decisions, making the process smooth. Her custom first philosophy sets the studio apart from more traditional retail models. “There are already incredible jewellery designers if you want something simple and ready to buy. But much of my work focuses on engagement rings and legacy pieces, and I believe those require more thought and intention.” Through collaborative sketches and open conversations, Romero works to ensure each stone is sourced with purpose. “We sketch together. We talk about their relationship, culture, and budget. We source stones intentionally rather than trying to sell what is already in stock.” In doing so, she hopes to build something more lasting than a single purchase. “I wanted the brand to feel like working with your personal jeweller, someone you build a relationship with over the years, rather than simply walking into a showroom.”

While jewelry is often associated solely with aesthetics, Romero is quick to point out the work that goes into each piece. “People also underestimate how much engineering goes into fine jewelry. A piece has to withstand decades of, sometimes daily, wear. Settings need to protect stones without blocking light.” Longevity is non-negotiable. I often see very large stones set in extremely flimsy settings, with very little structural support, essentially being held together with hopes and dreams. I will not sell a significant stone in a delicate setting if it compromises longevity. If a piece is meant to last for generations, it has to be built properly.”

Central to her process is understanding her client’s needs. “I listen first. Properly listen. Often, what someone asks for is not actually what they want; it is simply what they have seen online. When you ask the right questions, you uncover something deeper.” That may involve reworking inherited gold, sourcing stones that nod to cultural heritage, or incorporating subtle motifs from a meaningful place. “It is about being creative and intentional, rather than reducing it to rock plus band equals ring.”

Her technical training also informs how she evaluates gemstones beyond surface metrics. “There is so much more to a stone than its report. Diamond dealers will talk about the 4 Cs, but they may not mention depth percentages, ideal angles or pavilion depth. Every stone has a sweet spot.” Understanding these nuances ensures clients receive pieces that perform both visually and structurally. “It makes me feel that I am genuinely providing a service to my clients, because they are unlikely to receive that level of technical insight in a typical jewelry store.”

Ethics remain equally important within her studio practice. Jade sources diamonds and gemstones with full transparency and works only with traceable, responsibly sourced materials, while championing fair working conditions for all involved in the creation process. “Ethical traceability matters because clients deserve to know exactly what they are buying (especially with the price of fine jewellery).” In a market defined by access, clarity becomes essential. “Transparency builds trust. It removes intimidation and allows clients to make informed decisions rather than emotional ones.”

For Romero, jewellery also carries an energetic dimension. “I am also quite spiritual. I believe objects carry energy, so it is important to me that the pieces I create begin their life with integrity.” That philosophy was perhaps best reflected in a commission created for a close friend, inspired by a mango tree planted by her grandmother that began bearing fruit shortly after her passing. “We used a beautiful, bright orange sapphire to mimic the mangoes, set east to west for a slightly unconventional feel. We incorporated recycled gold from her grandmother’s own jewellery into the rest of the piece, so it quite literally carried her with it.”

Balancing timelessness with individuality often begins with a simple test. “I have a rule. I ask my clients to imagine the piece on their grandmother/grandfather. If it looks out of place, it is probably too trend-driven, and we need to refine it.” Romero views jewelry as something far beyond decoration. “From an early age, I understood that jewelry was not just decorative. It was sentimental, generational and, in many cases, protective. That duality between beauty and security is what first captured me.” It is a philosophy that continues to inform her work today, grounded in the belief that the most meaningful pieces are those created with care, intention and integrity.

“How you do anything is how you do everything,” she reflects. “Do things well, do them with integrity, and treat everyone how you would wish to be treated.”