THE STORY
“Kristel van Elderen” was founded in 2020 (at that time it was called “GoudlokjeDesign”).
I began goldsmithing in 2019 and, while creating my first collection, I also started my one-women business. Working from home, I created several collections (click here to read more about these collections), but I soon realized I found greater challenge and joy in creating larger, unique pieces, works of art that are also wearable (see Masterpieces).
For a while I combined making collections with crafting one-of-a-kind pieces, but since 2023 I have primarily focused on designing and creating unique pieces that combine different exclusive materials. To make these pieces even more distinctive, every new creation now includes both mokumegane and enamel; hallmarks of a masterpiece crafted by me!
MY SKILLS
As a perfectionist, I pursue the highest standards in everything I create. Every piece begins with a simple idea, which I gradually transform into something more refined, unique, and expressive through the careful selection of materials and techniques. This evolution can take weeks – sometimes months – as the concept continues to grow throughout the entire creative process.
From the first sketch to the final polish, every step is in my own hands. I choose to work independently because I want each piece of jewellery or art to be a true reflection of my vision. That’s why I not only design and forge my creations, but also master the intricate crafts of enameling and stonesetting. This complete control allows me to shape each masterpiece exactly as I imagine it.
MY MATERIALS
In my work, I choose only the finest materials and use them with imagination and purpose. Precious metals are my foundation, different colors of gold, the interplay between gold and silver, and traditional techniques like mokumegane all find their place in my designs. Yet the materials are never decorative for their own sake; they serves the story and intention behind each piece.
Gemstones and pearls bring another dimension to my creations. I have a deep appreciation for natural beauty, especially in colored gemstones and high‑quality pearls. I’m always searching for something exceptional, and I work exclusively with natural stones. My rare gemstones are untreated, unlike the majority of sapphires and rubies that are heat‑treated to enhance color and clarity. Their untouched nature makes them more precious and unique.
Over the years, I’ve built a fine collection of beautyful materials that I draw from for my own designs as well as bespoke commissions.
MEET ME
Kristel van Elderen
Designer and Jewellerymaker
My name is Kristel van Elderen‑Beerda, and I live in Amstelveen in the Netherlands with my husband and daughter, who are both the loves of my life.
Creativity has been woven through my life for as long as I can remember. As a child, I often sat beside my mother, watching her do needlework, and that’s how I learned to knit, crochet, embroider, sew, and even make lace. My father loved watercoloring, and I soon discovered that drawing came naturally to me as well.
In high school, I would often draw until after midnight. Creating brought me a sense of peace I couldn’t find anywhere else. When I went to university, my medical studies demanded all my time and energy, and my creative side slowly faded into the background. I focused fully on my work as a physician, until 2016, when I could no longer continue in that role, due to severe cancer-related fatigue following chemotherapy for Hodgkin lymphoma.
Everything changed again at the end of January 2019. My sister made an offhand remark (I don’t even remember exactly what she said) but a week later I found myself enrolled in a goldsmithing course at the vocational school in Schoonhoven. I haven’t regretted it for a single moment. It felt like coming home. Goldsmithing gave me the chance to unleash my creativity again, to work with my hands, and to shape ideas into something tangible and meaningful.
Outside my studio, I love bouldering, rock climbing, and being active in nature. And when I have time to spare, you’ll often find me in the kitchen baking bread and cakes or making fresh pasta and soups.