Welcome to my world.. Conscious, adventurous and sculptural, that’s how I would describe my jewellery. Expressed by mixing gold, diamonds and semiprecious stones, with ostrich eggs, scarab wings, tahitian pearls and 40,000 year-old mammoth tusk. My continuous search for new materials made me discover the beauty of imperfection. I’m embracing nature’s irregularity by using extraordinary, pure materials such as the most amazing baroque pearls and gems with inclusions art pieces on their own. I try not to look at the obvious, I see nature in a broad sense. The feeling of an unknown world triggers me to look further. I’m a sculptor by profession and in my perception every jewellery piece is a miniature sculpture. Pure craftmanship, nature and other cultures inspire me but true inspiration is to be found everywhere. The most smallest of details often stimulate me to start a new collection. For example the marks on a tahitian pearl form a
star in a galaxy seen on the surface of that pearl. Also, opals form the centre of a spacious ring by just being an opal. I believe real luxury is something powerful and compelling, something rare and special that isn’t ubiquitous. As a designer I try to tell the story of my pieces. Being a co-founder of Auverture, I help to discover unusual luxury pieces and specialize in unique, designer fine jewellery, dreamt up by artists and brought to life by skilled craftspeople in underthe-radar ateliers and workshops, scattered across the globe. I want the wearer to understand how a piece of jewellery comes into being and I want the wearer to work with a jeweller to create a personal piece that’s truly unique. I hope you enjoy looking through the next pages, as much as I enjoy making my jewellery.
About me Born in New York into a creative family and growing up in England and the Netherlands, an exciting and globally oriented life defines this 21st century artist. This international background was a powerful foundation for her later creative expressions. It did not take Bibi van der Velden long to choose a life passionately dedicated to fine arts. Through her mother, accomplished sculptor Michèle Deiters, Bibi at young age became acquainted with the world of art; her earliest childhood memories are those of freshly cut stone. So it wasn’t a surprise that sculpting became her vocation. She started mastering fine arts in Florance, Italy and developed further at Gerrit Rietveld Academy in Amsterdam and finally at the Royal Academy of Arts in The Hague. It was in Florence that her interest in jewellery design grew. She was collecting remarkable antique objects and felt the desire to do something with those objects. Eventually she started her Wearable Works of Art jewellery line in 2005 using unique pieces, antiques and personal belongings to create exclusive jewellery.
Bibi’s jewellery pieces have a craftsmanship-meets-design aesthetic, featuring an unusual blend of materials. Every piece arises from a creative journey that might have start with a vintage pocket watch, a family heirloom, or that 40,000-year-old Mammoth tooth. The handmade creations are a guileless enrapturement with nature and creativity and can be seen as a natural outgrowth of the English countryside where she grew up. She now divides her work across several continents and has studios in Amsterdam, Switzerland, France and Bangkok. Her choices were never coincidental, they illustrate her wish to combine historical techniques and materials with her innovative visions, perseverance, talent and creativity. Bibi’s jewellery is highly technically accomplished.
Pick up one of her fine jewellery pieces and you can open it, twist the stone around, and marvel at how diamonds are used in extraordinary ways. Working with sustainable materials and creating awareness for a better living environment is very important for the conscious designer. To her it’s about achieving a balance between luxury and sustainability in a way that chimes with the mood of the modern consumer. Bibi is known for her sense of fun and sharp appreciation of everyday beauty, mixed with love for travel and sculptural form: has fuelled Bibi’s design into globally acclaimed and desired works of art.
Faces Collection 18ct. gold, sterling silver and brown diamonds
The Faces Collection consists of fine pieces made of 18 ct. gold, silver and brown diamonds. Faces are a continuous inspiration for Bibi van der Velden. The way that time changes a face is the perspective from which this collection was created. The little faces are pavĂŠ, set with brown diamonds, and made of mammoth tusk or crystal rock.
Faces Collection Big Faces Ring
Faces Collection Faces Earrings Two Faces Bangle Different Views Necklace
Monkey Collection 18ct. rose and yellow gold, sterling silver, diamonds, green tsavorites
Bibi is intrigued by monkeys; one of the most amusing and intelligent animals on the planet. She started thinking about their favourite food as well: bananas! She found the shape of the fruit to be abstract yet with an interesting twist. These two thoughts combined led to the Monkey Collection. The collection is made out of sterling silver, 18ct. rose gold. The monkeys are pavĂŠ, set with small brown diamonds and the little detailing is in 18ct. gold.
Monkey Collection Monkey and Banana Bangle Two Monkeys Necklace Stackable Golden Banana Ring Stackable Diamond Banana Ring
Monkey Collection Monkey Leaf Stud Earrings Monkey Ring Climbing Monkey Bangle
Monkey Collection Two Monkey Necklace Monkey and Banana Stud Earrings Big Stone Monkey Ring
Kryptonite Gold Collection 18ct. yellow gold and colored sapphires
For the Kryptonite Gold Collection, Bibi was inspired by Superman’s Kryptonite. These pieces aspire to the feeling of an unknown world out there and in that sense are linked to the Galaxy Collection. The collection is based upon the indestructible look and feel of kryptonite, giving an exceptional look when worn. Made out of 18 ct. gold and colored sapphires they are perfectly balanced yet have a subtle little edge. The Kryptonite Gold collection is an evolution of the earlier Silver Kryptonite collection.
Kryptonite Gold Collection Kryptonite Necklace Kryptonite Big Ring
Kryptonite Gold Collection Kryptonite Bangle Kryptonite Stud Earrings Kryptonite Ring Kryptonite Drop Earrings
Scarab Collection Sterling silver, scarab wings, amethyst, tsavorites and 18ct. rose gold
The Scarab Collection is a luxurious collection made out of real scarab beetle wings. The beetles are considered a delicacy to eat in Thailand and the wings are leftovers from the feast. Bibi loves to use recycled material in her pieces and was delighted to give these wings a new purpose in life. Their extreme and strong, all-natural, colors make each piece of jewellery endlessly enchanting.
Scarab Collection Scarab Earcuff
“I would say that I am very conscious, conscious in the goals that I set for myself and what I want to achieve in life, but also conscious of the effect that we have on the environment and world and how we hopefully can make a contribution."
Scarab Collection Stackable Scarab Ring Scarab Duo Bangle
Scarab Collection Scarab Bunch Earrings Small Scarab Earrings Scarab Fly Necklace Scarab Necklace Stackable Scarab Ring
Galaxy Collection 18ct. rose gold, tahitian pearls, opals, sapphires and diamonds
Bibi has always had a fascination for clouds and stars. She finds the way the stars and clouds surround us to be unique and almost magical. The incredibly colored Tahitian pearls, in various shapes and sizes, particularly inspire her.The pearls are combined with exciting opals, sparkling white diamonds and sun kissed rose gold. Bibi likes to use pearls in a non-classical way, enlivening them with stones and gold. She wants you to look more deeply into the galaxy of pearls and be intrigued by nature’s beauty.
Galaxy Collection Planet Ring
Galaxy Collection Button Pearl Earrings Drop Pearl Earrings Small Planet Necklace
Galaxy Collection Orb with Stars Necklace Galaxy Star Ring Spinning Pearl Earrings
Galaxy Collection Big Planet Necklace
BibiMichèle Like a Shell - Jan Cremer Like a shell both parts combine into one. Or like a swan that glides over water chased by her young. Proud, wise mother and impatient daughter with a thirst for life. Both peering across the sea, while watching the shore. Curiously searching and always restless. This is how I see Michèle and Bibi. Both devoted to Art, both equally craving thqe ultimate form of creation. Two kindred spirits joined in power and creativity. All passion surrendered to the thirst to create. It’s not unusual for the son of an artist to follow in his father’s footsteps, sometimes this appears inevitable. While most remain in the shadow, condemned to dance around the volcano, it is still rarer for a daughter to follow her mother into art. Michèle and Bibi are two muses in Art. From an early age the daughter was led by the hand of her mother and learned to watch in silence and awe. Just as she learned from
teachers at the art academies. Learning to see. Because people look at sculptures but often fail to see them. Now they compliment each other and dance a duet of invention. Stimulating each other with ideas, their connection stronger than ever. Isolated and undisturbed in rural France where thoughts are only interrupted by the chirping of crickets. Where nothing distracts from work. With iron discipline they both seek to capture the sacred silence forever and transform it with form and sculpture. Wrestling together in marble and stone, to master them while burning with the will to create. Challenging each other to greater accomplishments. Two minds, two spirits surrounded by clay. Together creating sculptures, in a sea of deafening silence and calming turbulence. Like a shell.
BibiMichèle Confronting Time
Animal Collection 18ct. rose gold, sterling silver, brown and polky diamonds
This collection contains pieces with an exclusive design and delicate details that are aimed to delight. The pieces are fun and beautifully made, representing some of the most interesting prehistoric animals. The materials used contain silver, rose gold and brown diamonds. These make the pieces edgy as well as graceful.
Animal Collection Big Animal Ring
"I'm a storyteller and I love things which echo. My challenge as an artist is to either emphasize that story or to put it in a different context."
Animal Collection Elephant Necklace Polar Bear Necklace Whale Nacklace Platypus Necklace Dodo Necklace Hippo Necklace Rhino Necklace
Animal Collection Animal Earrings Mammoth Eggs Lion on Pearl Necklace Panther Ring
Pop Art Collection Pop Art Pendant Necklace Pop Art Eggs Tourmaline Little Egg
Pop Art Collection 40.000-year-old Mammoth Tusk, colored sapphires and 18ct. yellow gold
This collection gives an extra dimension to the Mammoth pieces. Adding unconventional, precious sapphires and little stars; ensures that the jewellery pieces really stand out. These stunning additions are placed randomly on the Mammoth tusk, but balance each other out beautifully. The Mammoth tusk, discovered under the permafrost in Siberia, is over 40,000 years old. The contrast between the tusk and the colors means that the pieces are fun, yet refined at the same time.
“What I try to do is to push my designs more into the direction of art, I really want to create timeless, exclusive pieces for my clients."
Pop Art Collection Pop Art Eggs Pyriet Pop Art Eggs Sapphires
Mammoth Collection 40.000-year-old Mammoth Tusk and 18ct. yellow gold
The Mammoth Collection combines rare and ancient materials with historic techniques. The pieces are created out of the tusk of a 40,000 year-old Mammoth, which was discovered, because of global warming, under the permafrost in Siberia. Consequently, the pieces also contribute to preservation. Carved to perfection and inlaid with 18ct. gold and precious stones, each piece itself is a little sculpture. The captivating designs are based on prehistoric animals, just like the material they are made from.
Mammoth Collection Sea Snake Ring
“We have an old farm on the top of a hill in the middle of nowhere in rural France. This is a place where I go to retreat, to sculpt, think and create.�
Mammoth Collection Alligator Ring Sea Horse Ring Toad Ring Ram Ring
Mammoth Collection Mammoth Gecko Earrings Crocodile Bangle
Baroque Pearl Collection Yellow, white and rose 18ct. gold, baroque pearls, brown and white diamonds
The beautiful pearls of the Baroque Pearl Collection are all unique and slightly different in shape and size. The imperfection of the baroque pearl captivates Bibi and she loves using them to make perfect pieces of jewellery. The pieces are a showstopper, and they make the wearer feel more elegant each and every day.
Baroque Pearl Collection Claw Ring
“I’m definitely a dancer. Not a talker, but a dancer. When there is music, and sometimes even when there is none.�
Baroque Pearl Collection Baroque Pearl Star Earrings Lemon Necklace
Jellyfish Collection Jellyfish Necklace
Jellyfish Collection Sterling silver, white diamonds and solar quartz The two elements that inspired Bibi to make this light and exceptional collection are air bubbles trapped in a frozen lake, and the untouchable white jellyfish she encountered on one of her travels. Made out of sterling silver, solar quartz and pearls, this collection is truly unique.
Jellyfish Collection Jellyfish Earrings Jellyfish Bangle Jellyfish Ring
Contact info@bibivandervelden.com +31 (0)20 626 90 95 Sales and Marketing Pien Rijpstra - pien@bibivandervelden.com PR and Internal Eliane Stuijt - eliane@bibivandervelden.com
Bibi van der Velden
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