When I was a little girl, I spent my days dreaming, creating and wandering through the trees, collecting pocketsful of natural treasures to bring home and cherish. I felt so deeply connected to myself, to nature, to the world around me; and in that connection, I felt rooted and free at the same time.

From a very early age I was struck by a fascination with gold; having visited a goldsmith’s
atelier during an excursion, I gave a presentation about it at school when I was as young as eleven.
During my twenties I further pursued this passion at a trade school, where I was trained to be a goldsmith.

There, I learned to rein in my creativity and authenticity for the sake of doing things the way they were supposed to be done; the right way, the traditional way. I worked my hardest to fit into the mold, as if like liquid metal, I could be poured and bent into shape as well. But the thing about getting caught up in this idea of having to be perfect, about pushing yourself to crystallize into a foreign form, is that it often causes you to lose your sense of play—and with that, your sense of self.

Much like going astray from yourself, rediscovering yourself isn’t something that happens at once.
It happens gradually; one by one, you encounter parts of yourself you thought you’d lost, sometimes in the most unexpected of places, and you start to piece yourself back together again. For me, that happened in Iceland, where I did my internship abroad; it felt like an invisible string was pulling me towards these parts which appeared both foreign and familiar somehow.
Before even embarking on this journey, I could already sense that it would be transformative.
And it ended up being exactly that.

For the first time in my life, I was all on my own; heart beating, eyes wide open as the capricious contours of the landscape came into view, as I ventured out into the unknown. The scenery of black rocks and beaches, white mountains, emerald green forests, golden grasses and indigo waters spoke to the deepest parts of me; I felt exposed and encompassed at the same time by the stillness, the emptiness, the openness of it all. I felt like I was starting to come home to myself again.

Under the care of two mentors, both masters in their craft, I got the chance to experiment, to playfully reinvent myself and my work. Where I felt stifled before, I now experienced complete creative freedom, feeling my inner child and my adolescent self come into bloom simultaneously as I found myself being introduced to creating jewellery with the natural elements that made up the very treasures I used to collect when I was a kid.
And in that moment, it felt like my story came full circle—like pieces of a puzzle gently falling into place.
Being able to create slowly, organically, to embrace the process and not just fixate on the final result; it felt touching to me. There, in Reykjavík, the idea of starting my own jewellery label was planted in my mind, like a seed in fertile soil.

In Iceland, you don’t just live in nature: you live with nature. Nature and culture are interwoven; the country being a volcanic island, its inhabitants are eternally exposed to the powerful forces of nature, meaning both have to live in harmony with one another.

I think that notion caused something to shift in my innermost: in the stillness, I could hear the whispers of my own heart again. In the emptiness, I learned to take up space. In the openness, I felt open, too. I found freedom in slowing down, in living and creating with intention.

And I carried all of that with me when I traveled back home to the Netherlands months later, knowing that the invisible string that tied me to Iceland and all of its colours, shapes and textures would remain in place forevermore. I carried it with me when I finally did start my own jewellery brand, and I still carry it with me everyday when I’m out dreaming, wandering and creating again from this renewed feeling of freedom, of calmth, of belonging.

My now award-winning jewellery, inspired by the wonders of nature, invites you to slow down and empowers you to show up with presence and purpose for what matters most to you.
Every single one of my jewellery pieces is ethically and thoughtfully sourced, designed and crafted from conscious materials only. Each unique piece tells a fair story, from beginning to end; allowing you to wear your values on your skin, while feeling connected to the beauty around you and your own beauty within.

May my creations make you feel radically radiant and effortlessly elegant, without
compromise. May they always remind you that there is magic in the mundane, strength in softness and power in slowing your pace. Because I’ve learned that even the smallest of moments can become monumental if you grant them your full attention. And what better way is there to truly live?

Are you ready for a journey of rediscovery and reconnection?

Explore our slow jewellery collection now.

Anna Wonders | thoughtful, timeless jewellery