Customers Take Part In Crafting Rings At Taman Emas Malaysia

KOTA BHARU, Jan 16 (Bernama) -- From molten silver to a polished finished ring, customers experience hands-on craftsmanship at Taman Emas Malaysia, taking part in every stage of the ring-making process themselves.

Muhammad Arfan Jazmi Mohd Sharizan, 19, said his first visit to the centre allowed him to be directly involved in crafting a ring from start to finish, using his preferred designs.

“I only paid RM98 and was guided through the process of designing a silver ring, which turned out to be a very interesting first-time experience. I did not expect the process to be so detailed.

“I came with a simple idea, but the goldsmith helped refine everything, including the sketch and final finishing, making the ring even more meaningful,” he told Bernama when met at Akademi Emas Malaysia (AKEMA), located within Taman Emas Malaysia, here recently.

He said the experience offered both the satisfaction of crafting his own ring and a deeper insight into gold and silver jewellery-making, which could inspire an interest in pursuing craftsmanship professionally.

Meanwhile, ring maker Wan Muhammad Faris Wan Mohd Azemi, 36, said the ring-making process demands a high level of patience, particularly during the cutting and finishing stages to ensure the final product is safe and comfortable to wear.

“The most challenging part is the cutting and shaping stage. A small mistake can damage the ring’s form, so precision and focus are essential.

“The custom ring process begins with melting the silver, which is then passed through a rolling machine to achieve the required thickness before being shaped according to the customer’s chosen design,” he said.

He said the ring is later cut using a special saw before undergoing filing and finishing. For designs such as the ‘belah rotan’ ring, the process can take up to two hours to ensure smooth edges and an accurate fit.

“The finishing continues using sandpaper with grit ranging from 320 to 1,200 to achieve a smooth, shiny surface and remove scratches, followed by final buffing,” he said, adding that the end result is comparable to jewellery sold commercially.

AKEMA Student Affairs director Zulna Haswani Hashim said the custom ring programme offers the public practical experience and acts as a stepping stone to more formal training in gold and silver craftsmanship.

She said participants looking to advance in the field can take part in the academy’s skills programmes, which offer Malaysian Skills Certificate (SKM) recognition.

“The custom ring programme and skills training offered by AKEMA can help strengthen the development of the local gold industry, while attracting young people to Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) based on high-value traditional skills.

“Kelantan has long been recognised for its strong foundation in gold craftsmanship, and AKEMA was established to formalise, refine and elevate local talent in line with current industry needs,” she said.

She added that AKEMA places strong emphasis on TVET development by providing training opportunities for students, including those from the B40 group who are interested in gold craftsmanship but face financial constraints.

“Through collaboration with corporate partners, the academy offers sponsorship assistance to B40 students for the February intake, opening up opportunities for Kelantan youth to pursue formal skills training,” she said.

-- BERNAMA