About us
J.M.C. Van der Veken is a Belgian jewelry house, founded by Joseph Van der Veken in 1952. We are one of the last artisan jewelry workshops in the world.
Our specialty is Haute Joaillerie.
Everything is made entirely by hand, without recourse to casting or any other form of mass production. This allows the jewelry to have a much finer finish and a much stronger structure, making it much more resistant to wear and other damage.
"The details are not details, they make the design." -Charles Eames
How it began
In 1952, Joseph Van der Veken was working as a goldsmith when war broke out in Korea. His then boss, who had survived the Holocaust, fled to America for fear of another world war. At this, Joseph decided to start his own business. Thus was born the atelier J.M.C. Van der Veken.
The beginning was very humble. The studio consisted of nothing more than a workbench that he shared with another independent goldsmith.
His eye for design, use of the best materials, but especially his perfectionist craftsmanship ensured that, despite a start in difficult circumstances, he quickly caught the eye of the leading diamondaires in Antwerp. He emerged as their favorite goldsmith-jeweler. Thanks to the commissions he received from them, he became the specialist in the most challenging part of the jewelry business: the Haute Joaillerie.
Haute Joaillerie
Quite soon after starting his workshop, Joseph was able to specialize in the highest segment of goldsmithing: Haute Joaillerie. These jewels are characterized by a the fact that they are always unique pieces, have an exceptional design, are made with the best materials and last but not least are made with an exceptionally high level of craftsmanship.
Through his eye for detail and the inimitable quality of his goldsmithing, Joseph soon succeeded in becoming a big name in this world. From the four corners of the world, connoisseurs and jewelry collectors found their way to the atelier on Rijf Street.
Craftsmanship
Artisan craftsmanship is central to our DNA. When almost every other jewelry house closed its workshops in the 1980s and 1990s and moved to casting and other forms of mass production, we stubbornly stayed true to our roots.
Each piece of Van der Veken jewelry is made entirely by hand, according to the principles of Haute Joaillerie. Everything is made exclusively in our Antwerp workshop by our Master Goldsmiths.
Only through outstanding craftsmanship can the most beautiful jewelry be made.
Family traditions
Joseph Van der Veken passed on the love of the trade to his son Christiaan, who entered the business in 1977.
In 1996, he took over leadership of the company.
In 2007, with Steven, the third generation stepped into the family business.