What Bibi van der Velden does

Bibi van der Velden is an Amsterdam-based fine jewelry house founded in 2005 by sculptor Bibi van der Velden (legal entity 'Wearable Works of Art'), creating sculptural handcrafted jewelry in 18K recycled gold with rare materials such as 60,000-year-old mammoth tusk, real scarab wings, and Kimberley Process diamonds. The brand is best known for nature-inspired signature motifs — Alligator, Scarab, Enchanted Forest, Bibi's Bestiary, and the 2025 Diamond Collection — each distinguished by hidden interactive mechanisms including snapping jaws, hidden compartments, and moving elements. The founder's training at the Gerrit Rietveld Academy and the Royal Academy of Arts shapes the sculptural, artisanal character of every piece.

Production follows a hand-drawn sketch → hand-carved wax model → traditional goldsmithing workflow, with pieces priced in tiers from approximately $2,000 (entry studs) to over $111,800 (statement necklaces such as the Alligator Wrap Necklace), with most mid-range items in the $5,000–$15,000 band. The catalog spans rings, earrings (studs, huggers, climbers, drops), bracelets, bangles, necklaces, charms, and wedding/engagement pieces.

The business operates a hybrid distribution model: DTC e-commerce globally, one physical Amsterdam flagship opened in October 2025 (Van Baerlestraat 46) replacing a prior 20-year studio-gallery model, a Rosewood Amsterdam 'House Jeweller' partnership (Jewels on Wheels cart and private appointments), and roughly 20+ curated wholesale stockists including Bergdorf Goodman, Dover Street Market (NY/LA), Browns, Harvey Nichols, Maxfield, Wempe, 10 Corso Como, and Farfetch online. Revenue streams combine one-time jewelry sales (DTC and wholesale) with bespoke commissions and hospitality services; the company is founder-owned and privately held with no institutional capital. Celebrity visibility from Rihanna, Beyoncé, Salma Hayek, and Natalie Dormer functions as brand amplification rather than contracted B2B revenue.

Name

Bibi van der Velden

Legal name

Wearable Works of Art

Website

https://bibivandervelden.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2005

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

Bibi van der Velden is an Amsterdam-based, founder-owned fine jewelry house designing sculptural handcrafted 18K recycled gold pieces with rare materials, distributed via e-commerce, a 2025 Amsterdam flagship, 20+ global luxury stockists, and the Rosewood Amsterdam partnership.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Fine Jewelry

NAICS

Jewelry and Silverware Manufacturing (33991), Jewelry Retailers (45831), Jewelry, Watch, Precious Stone, and Precious Metal Merchant Wholesalers (423940)

SIC

Jewelry, Precious Metal (3911), Retail-Jewelry Stores (5944), Jewelry, Silverware & Plated Ware (3910)

akta.pro primary industry

High Jewelry & Haute Joaillerie (CRAKAAAE)

akta.pro secondary industries

Artisan/Hand-Fabricated One-of-a-Kind Jewelry (CRAKAHAI), Ethical/Sustainable & Recycled Materials Jewelry Manufacturing (CRAKAIAM)

Keywords

• Fine jewelry design
• Sculptural jewelry
• Luxury jewelry brand
• Handcrafted jewelry
• Recycled gold jewelry

Headquarters

HQ city

Amsterdam

HQ country

Netherlands

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Supply Chain, Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Direct Jewelry Sales (DTC): The company generates revenue through direct-to-consumer sales of handcrafted fine jewelry pieces priced from approximately $2,000 to over $100,000, sold through its e-commerce platform and flagship store.
2. Wholesale to Stockists: Revenue is generated through supplying curated luxury boutiques and department stores globally including Bergdorf Goodman (New York), Dover Street Market (NY/LA), Browns (London), Harvey Nichols (London), and specialty retailers across Europe, US, and Japan.
3. House Jeweller Services: As official House Jeweller of Rosewood Amsterdam, the brand provides bespoke creations, curated touchpoints, and the 'Jewels on Wheels' mobile cart experience for hotel guests.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels9 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

Bibi van der Velden designs and produces handcrafted sculptural fine jewelry in 18K recycled gold, set with ethically sourced diamonds, precious gemstones, and rare materials such as 60,000-year-old mammoth tusk, real scarab wings, baroque pearls, and abalone. The company sells these pieces directly through its e-commerce site and Amsterdam flagship store, plus via curated luxury stockists worldwide and a House Jeweller residency at Rosewood Amsterdam, with price points ranging from about $2,000 for entry studs to over $111,000 for statement necklaces.

Product overview

Bibi van der Velden is a Dutch fine jewellery brand founded in 2005 that creates sculptural, handcrafted jewellery transforming nature's beauty into wearable art. The product portfolio consists of multiple named collections centered on signature motifs: the Alligator Collection (signature snapping-jaw alligator pieces in gold, mammoth, and gems), Scarab Collection (Egyptian-inspired pieces with real scarab wings), Diamond Collection (20th anniversary collection with alligator motif in all-diamond designs), Bibi's Bestiary (charm jewellery for layering), and Enchanted Forest (sculptural nature-inspired pieces). Product types span earrings (studs, huggers, climbers, drops), rings (cocktail, stackable, statement), bracelets and bangles, necklaces, and charms. Materials include 18K recycled gold, Sterling Silver, diamonds (F-G VS, Kimberley Process certified), and unique elements like 60,000-year-old mammoth tusk, abalone, real scarab wings, baroque pearls, and various gemstones (malachite, opal, tourmaline, tsavorites). The brand operates through its Amsterdam flagship store, Rosewood Amsterdam partnership (House Jeweller), and global stockists including Bergdorf Goodman, Dover Street Market, Browns, and Farfetch.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Diamond Collection A standalone fine jewelry collection featuring the Alligator motif in diamonds and white gold, including necklaces, bracelets, rings, twist rings, earrings, and ear huggers for collectors marking the brand's 20-year milestone.
• Alligator Collection The brand's signature collection of intricately carved alligator motifs in miniature form, crafted in gold and mammoth tusk and expanded to malachite, pink opal, lapis, and diamond-encrusted versions, with pieces featuring snapping jaw mechanisms.
• Bibi's Bestiary Collection A charm jewelry collection inspired by medieval symbolism, designed to be combined, layered, and reimagined, featuring scarab, alligator, mushroom, monkey, and other animal motifs in mammoth, malachite, opal, and diamond.
• Scarab Collection Fine jewelry collection inspired by the Egyptian scarab beetle symbolizing renewal and protection, incorporating real scarab wings with 18K gold, malachite, opal, tourmaline, and diamonds across rings, earrings, bracelets, and necklaces.
• Enchanted Forest Collection Sculptural fine jewelry collection inspired by nature's transformation, crafted in 18K recycled gold with luminous materials such as abalone and carved rock crystal, featuring fluid silhouettes and tadpole, frog, and sea creature motifs.
• Fine Jewellery Bracelets Handcrafted fine jewelry bracelets including the Alligator Wrap Bracelet, Alligator Link Chain, Wave Barrel Link Chain, and Scarab bangles in 18K gold with diamonds, tsavorites, mammoth tusk, abalone, pearls, and rock crystal.
• Fine Jewellery Earrings Designer earrings including studs, ear huggers, climbers, and drop earrings featuring alligator, scarab, frog, jellyfish, and mermaid motifs in 18K gold with diamonds, tsavorites, malachite, mammoth tusk, opal, and enamelwork.
• Fine Jewellery Necklaces Fine jewelry necklaces and pendants including statement pieces such as the Diamond Alligator Necklace ($92,950), Alligator Wrap Necklace ($111,800), and Guardians of the Forest Necklace in 18K gold with diamonds, pearls, abalone, tourmaline, and tsavorites.
• Fine Jewellery Rings Fine jewelry rings including cocktail rings, stackable rings, and statement pieces featuring scarab, alligator, frog, jellyfish, and mermaid motifs in 18K gold with malachite, opal, tourmaline, tiger eye, abalone, and diamonds, priced from approximately $5,700 to $43,050.
• Fine Jewellery Studs Stud earrings featuring miniature motifs including frogs, jellyfish, ants, and mermaid tails in 18K gold with quartz, malachite, tiger eye, opal, tsavorites, brown diamonds, and Tahitian pearls, with entry pieces starting around $2,000.
• Fine Jewellery Ear Huggers Ear huggers and climbers designed to curve around the ear rim without piercing, including the Diamond Alligator Climber and Diamond Alligator Meandering Ear Climber in 18K white gold with diamonds.
• Wedding Jewellery Fine jewelry collection designed for weddings including the Diamond Haze Earrings ($71,150), eternity bracelets, and bridal-appropriate designs in 18K gold with diamonds and pearls.
• Statement Pieces Bold sculptural statement jewelry including the Sea Goddess Ring ($43,050), Sea Foam Ring ($31,800), Diamond Smoke-Ring Hoop Earrings ($18,900), and Alligator Wrap Ring ($38,300).
• Jewels on Wheels (Rosewood Amsterdam) A roaming jewelry cart experience at Rosewood Amsterdam hotel that brings Bibi van der Velden pieces to guests in private suites, The Court, The Library, and cocktail areas as part of the House Jeweller residency.
• Bespoke and Private Appointments Tailored private appointment service at the Amsterdam flagship store and showroom where clients can explore collections, hear the stories behind pieces, and commission bespoke custom creations.

Quantifiable outcome

• Paris Fashion Week 2025 debut showcasing Diamond Collection celebrating 20-year anniversary
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered flagship and core.

• Mad LordsflagshipGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 October 2025Paris-based luxury jewelry boutique hosting Bibi van der Velden for a cocktail event during Paris Fashion Week 2025. The event turned an industry gathering into an intimate gathering of partners, friends, and creatives featuring jewelry styling and brand storytelling.
• Madison (Bucharest)flagshipChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 1 October 2025Romanian luxury jewelry boutique operated by female founder Madeleine, serving as a stockist for the Diamond Collection and core collections. Partnership enables brand expansion into Eastern European market.
• Château VoltaireflagshipGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 October 2025Parisian hotel serving as brand's 'home away from home' during Paris Fashion Week, hosting the Bibi Circle creative lunch gathering over 20 fashion industry creatives. Brand's base for fashion week events and private appointments.
• Rosewood AmsterdamcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025Bibi van der Velden appointed as official House Jeweller of Rosewood Amsterdam. The partnership includes the 'Jewels on Wheels' roaming cart experience, private appointments within the hotel's exclusive suites, and curated jewelry encounters throughout the property. The cart itself is described as a sculptural object with marquetry wood craftsmanship featuring an enchanted landscape with gold-touched botanicals, ceramic clouds, and a mechanical scarab in motion.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Pomellato: Italian fine jewelry brand (Richemont/Kering) known for distinctive designer-driven collections and artisanal chains. Comparable mid-luxury price point positioning and emphasis on design differentiation versus mass-market luxury houses.
• Boucheron: Historic Parisian haute joaillerie house under Kering, operating at the high-jewelry tier Bibi van der Velden is now entering. Comparable for sculptural artistic design DNA and global luxury positioning, though at vastly larger scale.

Direct peers

• Repossi: Parisian independent fine jeweler known for architectural, minimalist sculptural designs. Comparable on independent designer positioning, modern sculptural aesthetic, and multi-channel luxury distribution.
• Vhernier: Italian contemporary fine jeweler (Damiani Group) producing sculptural, design-forward pieces in precious metals and unusual materials. Comparable on contemporary sculptural design language and Italian/European artisan heritage.
• Cindy Chao: Taiwan-based haute joaillerie designer brand recognized for sculptural, nature-inspired one-of-a-kind pieces in the $100K+ range. Highly comparable: independent, founder-led, sculptural, couture jewelry positioning with celebrity clientele.
• Suzanne Syz: Swiss-Geneva independent fine jeweler producing art-jewelry with bold colors, sculptural forms, and unconventional materials. Comparable as a founder-led designer jewelry house operating in the $5K–$100K+ sculptural fine jewelry tier.
• Hemmerle: Munich-based family-owned fine jeweler known for sculptural, unconventional designs using unexpected materials. Comparable as an independent artisanal haute joaillerie house with handcraftsmanship and material innovation at its core.
• Lydia Courteille: Parisian independent jewelry designer creating sculptural, narrative-driven fine jewelry with unusual materials and themes. Direct comparable on creative-independence, sculptural art-jewelry positioning, and one-of-a-kind design philosophy.
• Anna Hu: New York-based haute joaillerie designer brand with classical training and artistic, sculptural fine jewelry at luxury price points. Comparable as a designer-driven brand bridging art and fine jewelry with celebrity placements.
• Solange Azagury-Partridge: British independent fine jewelry designer known for conceptual, sculptural pieces with hidden meanings. Comparable as a founder-led independent designer brand emphasizing conceptual sculptural design over traditional fine jewelry conventions.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/BibiVDV
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/bibi-van-der-velden---wearable-works-of-art
• Instagraminstagram.com/bibivandervelden
• Pinterestnl.pinterest.com/bibivdvelden

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Bibi van der Velden