All jewellery is designed by Lien Hereijgers herself. She and her team then start working to bring the designs to life in the workshop in Deurne. There, the composite jewellery is handmade, sanded and polished.
Besides their own Belgian atelier, Odell also collaborates with a small family atelier in Italy. Here, the metal parts of the jewellery are hand-crafted. The base of the jewellery is made in silver and then given a gold gilding. Odell deliberately chooses to work with a European atelier as stricter labour rules apply here. Moreover, this atelier works with the same artisanal techniques as the Antwerp atelier.
Odell works with a unique composite material as a base. The composite is a combination of small particles of granite or quartz granules mixed with a synthetic resin. The material is made by the jewellery designer herself, so she can give unique, colourful effects to the material by adding colour pigments.
The composite material is high-quality and so it is better resistant to water, chemicals and hand soap. Thanks to the lightweight material, even the more robust designs are comfortable to wear. Unfortunately, this resin is synthetic, which is a drawback for the brand’s sustainability.
The base of the composite jewellery is made in sterling silver. The silver is cast and gold-plated in Italy. So the gold look jewellery is silver plated with a layer of 18-carat gold. The silver look jewellery is rhodium-plated for better quality.
Because the composite is a mix of plastic, granite or quartz and pigments, the material is difficult to recycle. It is also a relatively new material so recycling techniques are being developed.
All of Odell’s jewellery, however, can easily be taken apart. Because the metal and synthetic resin can be separated, the metal part can be used again.
Moreover, you can give your jewellery a longer life by having it restored or polished. The Odell team provides a maintenance and repair service for all your purchases.
The metal base for the jewellery is crafted by an Italian family-run factory. The Odell team then cast the composite in their own workshop in Deurne, near Antwerp. All production therefore takes place in Europe, meaning the jewellery does not have to travel long distances.
Unfortunately, we have no information on the further supply chain of the materials. There is, especially about the origin of the metals, little transparency in the jewellery sector. Unfortunately, the mining of the metals often has a major environmental impact on the area and malpractices are reported by workers. You can read more about the impact of mining in our blog.
Odell’s jewellery contains no materials of animal origin and is therefore completely vegan.
Lien Hereijgers designs the jewellery in function of the material. The style is timeless, with clean, geometric elements. The robust details are brought out in this, giving the jewellery a distinctive touch. The composites used are unique with a wide variety of colour shades. This creates one of a kind and high-quality jewellery to cherish for a long time.
Odell seamlessly combines techniques from classical goldsmithing with modern laser technologies. Yet the artisanal aspect is central with the manual casting of the synthetic resin.
To ensure you can enjoy your jewellery for a long time, Odell also offers a maintenance and repair service. You can send your jewellery to have it cleaned, polished or re-gilded. The Odell team will make sure your jewel shines like new again. Moreover, the workshop also carries out repairs when needed.
Finally, the jewellery brand also offers custom-made jewellery to ensure your favourite ring fits you perfectly. Several jewels are also only available on back order. This means that your chosen bracelet, ring or necklace will only be made after you have ordered it. This way, this Belgian brand ensures that their stock remains dynamic and there are no surpluses.
Odell is very transparent about their atelier and manufacturing partner. This way, we know that the jewellery is ethically and handmade in Europe. Unfortunately, the jewellery industry still has a long way to go in terms of transparency. These difficulties prevent Odell from building a fully transparent supply chain.
At Belgian brand Odell, you will find elegant jewellery with minimalist designs. The geometric lines and colourful materials make each ring, necklace and earring a unique piece of jewellery to treasure.
