A love of gemstones led Dr. Karen Escobido into fine jewellery. Curious about their colour, rarity and individual character, the dentist began studying gemology and sourcing stones herself. That interest grew into Katalia Fine Jewelry, a Filipino brand named after her two daughters.
Her expressive designs reflect the same attention to detail she applies in dentistry, with bamboo textures and richly coloured stones giving her pieces their character. For this edition of Friday Club. Insider, we caught up with Karen to explore how she finds her gemstones, develops her collections and envisions her brand’s future. Here’s what she had to say…
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How did your love of jewellery grow into Katalia, alongside your career in dentistry?
It came naturally. I’ve always loved jewellery, but I became more fascinated by the colour and rarity of gemstones, and the fact that no two are the same.
Dentistry is already part of who I am, but jewellery gave me another creative outlet. I didn’t just want to sell beautiful jewellery; I wanted to understand what I was looking at. That curiosity led me to study gemology more seriously and personally source and curate stones.
That’s how Katalia grew. It started with something I loved, and over time it became a profession and another part of who I am.
How does your background in dentistry influence the way you approach jewellery?
More than I realised in the beginning. As a dentist, you work in millimetres. Even a very small adjustment can have an enormous effect on a patient’s comfort and the result.
I brought that same eye into jewellery. When my staff show me a piece, I notice small details such as the thickness of the band or the setting of the stone. Dentistry has made me very meticulous about the design and craftsmanship of my jewellery.
What makes a gemstone exceptional to you?
For me, an exceptional gemstone should have presence. There’s an emotional response to the stone.
Some stones don’t move you when you see them in person. But others make you stop and feel, ‘This stone is for me.’
Where does your search for gemstones take you?
I love Sri Lanka, where I’ve visited mines and built relationships with people in the mining and cutting businesses. I source rough stones personally, then work with my colleagues to explore the possibilities – whether a heart shape, for example, would bring out something exceptional in a particular gem.
Bangkok is another place I enjoy sourcing. Working with rough stones gives me more freedom to explore their potential and create something different, rather than starting with a cut that’s already been decided.
How does your personal taste shape Katalia’s designs?
I’m drawn to statement pieces in my own wardrobe. I might wear a watch with a big ring, or just one or two pieces together. That preference carries through to Katalia’s designs, which tend to be bold and expressive. Many of my clients share that taste, too.
Tell us about the Bamboo Collection. What inspired the designs?
Bamboo is a symbol of resilience, which is why I wanted to work with it. You can see its shape and texture in different pieces, including the rings.
One piece combines tourmaline with blue moonstone. The tourmaline had been in my collection for years, and only recently did I see what I wanted to do with it. I combined it with blue moonstone, and I think the combination is remarkable.
I made a sketch with a bamboo design, shaping the side of the piece to resemble bamboo.
You showed us a necklace that can be worn in several ways. How does it work?
It’s also part of the Bamboo Collection, with bamboo textures in the design. The clasp is a Katalia signature that I designed.
You can detach the sections so that one becomes a choker and another becomes a bracelet, or wear them together as a long necklace. You can also position the clasp so that it looks like a pendant.
When a client comes to you for a bespoke piece, where do you begin?
I need to get to know the client first and understand what they like to wear. I want to create a beautiful piece that, when she wears it, feels naturally hers.
What makes a piece worth passing down through generations?
It comes down to quality, authenticity and meaning. The craftsmanship has to be exceptional because, if you’re going to pass a piece down to the next generation, it needs to last.
When jewellery has a story, it becomes truly valuable. You can say, ‘This was my mother’s,’ or, ‘My grandmother had this made for herself.’ It carries a story beyond the person who first owned it.
As Katalia reaches an international audience, what do you want people to understand about the brand?
My dream is that, when people encounter Katalia internationally, being a Philippine brand isn’t something we have to qualify or explain.
It’s something we’re proud to put beside our name: Katalia is Filipino-founded, but the quality is always global.
This post is in partnership with Katalia Fine Jewelry.
Catherine Pun
A Hong Kong native with Filipino-Chinese roots, Catherine infuses every part of her life with zest, whether she’s belting out karaoke tunes or exploring off-the-beaten-path destinations. Her downtime often includes unwinding with Netflix and indulging in a 10-step skincare routine. As the Editorial Director of Friday Club., Catherine brings her wealth of experience from major publishing houses, where she refined her craft and even authored a book. Her sharp editorial insight makes her a dynamic force, always on the lookout for the next compelling narrative.
