If your clients are looking for jewels that are the epitome of luxury with a rebellious twist, Bibi van der Velden is your gal. The Amsterdam-based jeweler, originally a sculptor, is effortlessly cool, and it shows in her creations. Taking inspiration from some of the edgiest fashion trends while utilizing rare materials and precious gemstones, hers are some of the most jaw-dropping designs that you just don’t see every day. That’s why it was beyond cool to see her twist on a timeless era in jewelry: Art Deco.
The straight, clean lines of the 1920’s heyday are evident in Bibi’s pieces, mixed with the designer’s take on the art world’s attitude toward the Golden Age: a love of luxury, glamor, and high energy. The highlight of the collection for me, an out-of-this-world cocktail ring (pictured at top), glows with a lively aquamarine gemstone and is further accented with diamonds and three-dimensional, geometric star motifs. That design lends itself to other pieces in the collection, like Bibi’s chunky, statement-making necklace set with aquamarine and green amethyst.
Another scene-stealer—and a departure from the cool blue aquamarine styles—are the earrings that combine the chic, feminine look of pearls with the natural edge of rutilated quartz. The neutral hues are anything but bland, though the colors make it easy for the drops to match with just about anything.
You won’t see Art Deco’s oft-used sapphires. You won’t see a smattering of diamonds. But your customers won’t see themselves coming or going, either. Bibi’s collection is just what we need to meet the demand for the glamorous looks of the past while indulging today’s desire to be daring and to stand out from the crowd. Yet again, Bibi van der Velden has inspired and impressed—and in the process, made our jewelry wishlist that much longer. I wonder what she’ll come up with next?
See more from Bibi van der Velden on JCK Marketplace, and visit our Art Deco board on Pinterest for more Golden Age indulgence.
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