Stone-Inspired Jewelry Pieces Born in the Old City, Driven by a Global Dream

The Jerusalemite Hajj Khalil family owns two small adjoining shops on al-Wad Street in Jerusalem’s Old City. One of the shops is adorned with Jerusalem stones blended with gold and silver.

Right before reaching the Cotton Merchants’ Market (Suq al-Qattanin), the two shops appear to the left of a passerby. The neatly arranged stones in the glass window immediately draw one’s attention, surrounded on either side by handmade jewelry that young Jerusalemite artisan Ibrahim Khalil designs from scratch.

Born in 1999, Ibrahim grew up in a family that lived in the Old City neighborhood of ‘Aqabat al-Khalidiyya. He spent his formative years there, where he attended local schools and, from a young age, was captivated by Jerusalem’s stones.

Ibrahim’s father, Marwan, practiced jewelry-making for many years and trained his son in the craft. However, neither of them had ever thought to incorporate Jerusalem stones into their pieces.

Ibrahim carefully observed the intricacies of jewelry design and eventually decided to learn its fundamentals. Over time, he created numerous pieces—many of which prominently featured the map of Palestine as a central motif.

About two years ago, Ibrahim dared to think outside the box. Driven by a desire to create something new, unique, and exceptional, he designed his first necklace using an ancient stone from Jerusalem, set in silver. With this creation in hand, he flew to Dubai to participate in a jewelry exhibition.

Ibrahim displayed the new necklace alongside various other jewelry collections. “That piece caught the attention of every visitor to the exhibition; anyone who came near my table asked, ‘What is this necklace made of?’ and when I answered, ‘of Jerusalem stones,’ they were astonished,”1 he said.

“Many people repeatedly asked the same question: ‘Is this stone really from Jerusalem?’ and when I said yes, they would respond, ‘You’ve done something amazing,’” Ibrahim revealed. “I felt the deep longing of diaspora for anything that carries the scent of the Holy City, and the significance of what I had created.”

The few hours that Ibrahim spent at the exhibition were enough to further motivate him to work hard and launch ELIAA Stone Jewelry: a jewelry line that brings to life Jerusalem’s beautiful stones, in addition to the silver-embedded map of Palestine. Ibrahim began crafting jewelry inspired by Damascus Gate, the homes of the Old City, the walls of Jerusalem, and the panoramic view from the Mount of Olives, all incorporating miniature stone models combined with silver and gold-plated silver.

When asked, “Why the stone?” he replied: “Wherever you turn in the Old City, you are surrounded by historic stones, from the walls to the buildings, the shops, and even the ground.”

“Jerusalem’s stones have a unique charm; they tell countless stories of many eras and the people who helped build this city,” he added.

“All my memories are summed up in the stones of the Old City, as is my present and my future; Jerusalem stones are not ordinary stones,” he said. “Since launching the ELIAA jewelry project, a new relationship has formed between me and these stones. I now look at them and work with them in a completely different way.”

Ibrahim collects ancient stones that have fallen from Jerusalem’s historic homes. Over time, he has developed the skill to distinguish between Mamluk and Ottoman stones. Once collected, each stone is carefully cleaned before undergoing a process of breaking, cutting, shaping, and polishing—followed by additional steps that Ibrahim prefers not to disclose in detail.

To provide a glimpse of his process, the young entrepreneur invited the Jerusalem Story team to his workshop, which is located next to his home in ‘Aqabat al-Khalidiyya. When he opened a small white door, we were amazed by the authenticity of the tiny stone workshop. Ibrahim placed his tools and machines on both sides of his space, while he sat in the middle, rotating his chair left and right depending on the stage of production.

Small stones are scattered throughout the workshop—some already in production, others awaiting transformation by Ibrahim’s skilled hands. Each one carries a fragment of Jerusalem’s ancient story. A small card is attached to every handcrafted piece, which reads:

“Jerusalem stone is not just a stone; it is a piece of Jerusalem’s history and civilization. It’s an expression of our identity and a symbol of our resilience.”

Despite the currently low demand due to the ongoing difficult economic conditions, Ibrahim remains steadfast and committed to producing these stone-infused pieces. He notes that expatriates have recently begun discovering his project and are the most eager to own his creations.

“Once I finish working on a piece, I take a long look at it, and I feel an emotional bond forming between me and every piece, from birth to delivery,” he said. “My relationship with Jerusalem’s stones evolves daily, and I’m proud of that; through this connection, I hope I will one day reach the global stage, God willing,” he added.

After bidding Ibrahim farewell, we left his workshop. He went on to his two small shops to resume his role as a merchant, before closing up each night to return once again to his jewelry-making craft, which he dreams will one day become internationally acclaimed.