HOW IT ALL STARTED
founder story
Contrary to what many people think, CdK is not a one-woman show. The company was founded by two sisters: Charlotte and Rozemarijn.
THE CREATIVE BRAIN
CHARLOTTE
Coming from a family of goldsmiths, Charlotte learned the trade at a young age.
Following her passion, she completed the infamous goldsmith school in Schoonhoven, after which she also graduated the Royal Academy of Arts Willem de Kooning.
After completing her studies Charlotte worked for five years for her aunt and uncle (true masters in the goldsmith craft) in their atelier for BLGK edelsmeden.
Charlotte is a dreamer and a doer; she loves to design by playing and experimenting. She doesn’t like to talk endlessly about her pieces, but would rather let them speak for themselves.
Next to designing our collections, Charlotte is also in charge of the general aesthetics of CdK and she is the lead goldsmith, guiding the goldsmith team and daily operations in the atelier.
THE COMMERCIAL BRAIN
ROZEMARIJN
Rozemarijn is a conceptual thinker who loves to make new connections and combinations.
During her business studies she specialized in innovation and entrepreneurship.
Having lived in multiple countries for both studies and work, she is internationally oriented and values different perspectives. The first four and a half years of her career she worked in business & technology consulting.
This experience allowed her to learn about all aspects of the businesses of big multinational companies. All of which she could later apply in small (and without the bureaucratics or politics) to her favorite little company; CdK.
She wears many hats at CdK, but what she loves most is finding ways to make the customer experience even better.
OUR HISTORY
from side project to business
Workbench in the living room
In 2016, Char and Roze are living together in Amsterdam Oost. Char has a workbench at home where she makes jewelry for her personal network, while in the daytime working at her aunt and uncles atelier for BLGK edelsmeden.
The side hustle
Roze —impressed by her sister’s talent helped out whenever she could. While Charlotte worked on her first collections, the sisters sold jewelry at markets, snapped (very amateur) photos, and brainstormed ways to grow. They launched a first webshop.
The first atelier space
Fast forward to 2019. Charlotte found her first store and atelier space! Dear friend Wilfried welcomed Char into the basement space of his store Bckspace Eyewear so she could use it as her own space for receiving customers and crafting jewelry.
Focus shift to CdK
Mid 2020, Char leaves BLGK to focus fully on CdK. Roze starts working part-time to focus more on CdK as well. The collection, content creation, and marketing channels are growing more professional.
All in: founding the company
By late 2020, Char has more work than she can manage alone. The sisters align on a shared vision and decide to start a real business. Char focuses on creativity, Roze on the business side. Roze leaves Accenture, and they register Charlotte de Koomen Jewelry B.V.
Covid times
Then covid hits. Casual in-store visits weren’t possible, so we switched to masked appointments—and later, only outside. Not ideal when choosing something as special as an engagement ring. Luckily, our webshop and Instagram channels were strong.
Building the team
Char and Roze start shaping CdK into a professional brand—clearer processes and a sharper design identity. In summer 2021, Iris and then Zora join the team: two talented goldsmiths full of energy and ideas. The atelier gets crowded, but the close teamwork is very "gezellig". ;)
Finding our own space
Spring 2022: orders keep growing, and so does the team. Our basement on Herenstraat is bursting, so we start searching for a new space—with room for a showroom, atelier, and office. After months of looking, we find the perfect spot on Gerard Doustraat.
Gerard Dou renovations
Three months of renovations follow. We build most of it ourselves—workbenches, the atelier space, jewelry displays, appointment tables—thanks to the help of our super handy dad, Aart.
A home for our creativity
In September 2022, we move into our beautiful new home. We shaped a customer experience that’s both relaxed and refined. With an amazing team, we bring every part of CdK to life in-house. From design to production to branding, it’s all us—and we’re proud of that. Here’s to creating more meaningful jewelry together!