The French brand Van Den Abeele was created by Delphine Crech’riou following her experience with the Brazilian label Hipanema.
Delphine Crech’riou—a Parisian from Montmartre with Breton roots—chose her husband’s surname, Van Den Abeele, for her jewelry brand because, as she puts it, she is looking toward the future. This is not the only unconventional choice made by the jewelry designer, who dreamed of becoming a fashion designer as a child. While at the École des Arts Décoratifs in Paris, she even created an iguana-shaped handbag that was studded with jewels and entirely bead-embroidered. In short, Delphine’s vocation was both authentic and evident from an early age. Yet, in 2012, at the age of 30, she set off with a backpack to travel the world. Upon arriving in Brazil, she conceived the idea for a lucky-charm bracelet—a concept that led to the success of the Hipanema jewelry brand, co-founded with Jenny Collinet. That experience laid the groundwork for her latest venture.
The notion that a piece of jewelry brings good luck is as old as humanity itself—though, unfortunately, there is little proof that it actually works. Regardless, millions of these bracelets were sold. With her Van Den Abeele brand, the designer now offers a line of jewelry that goes against the grain—a boho-chic style blending gold, silver, diamonds, natural gemstones, and enamel in vibrant, surprising combinations. These are precious pieces, yet suitable for wearing on the beach—albeit without going overboard.
Her decision to create unconventional jewelry does not, however, diminish her desire to offer pieces that stand the test of time—items not tied to a fleeting moment or a passing trend. To this end, Delphine employs whimsical designs while incorporating precious gemstones, which hold their value regardless of the specific piece of jewelry in which they are set. The mix of colors is, in any case, the defining feature: turquoise has become a recurring and highly appreciated material, as have the greens of emerald, malachite, and chrysoprase.
