Discover Benelux | Christmas Special | The Ultimate Guide to Luxury Gifts
Elegance, craftsmanship, passion and ‘joie de vivre’ TEXT: MICHIEL STOL | PHOTOS: MARTENS JUWELIER - CREATEUR
Perfection takes time. That is why Julie Martens takes her time when she designs her beautiful and unique jewels for her clients, for the store displays and for the online boutique of the family business. “Designing is my passion and my art. You should never feel rushed as an artist.”
Science and Crafts IATA in Namur, where she enrolled in courses on arts history, drawing and learned the metier of goldsmith, and was able to amplify her skills by becoming a diamond grader. “There, I found my passion for diamonds. We handpick the diamonds we use in our jewellery, because we want to be sure they tick all the right boxes.” The shops of Martens Jewellery used to carry a lot more watches, but the Martens family decided to focus mainly on jewellery. “Jewels have their own personality. They are items that make a person unique, let them shine,” she continues. “Each client has their own story and we can play a part in turning that story into a timeless piece.”
Julie is the third generation of Martens to create handmade, one-of-a-kind jewels. “My grandmother has always been active in the industry, but it was my father that opened our first store in Aalst in 1990. Five years later, he opened a second store here in Sint-Niklaas.” They also have an online shop. “We wanted to inform people about the possibilities and prices, from the comfort of their own home.”
Creating unique, handcrafted pieces
Martens learned the trade from her family and at the Institute for Arts, Technique,
The Martens collection consists of two major parts: the first is the jewellery that they design from their own inspiration.
26 | Issue 60 | December 2018