Designers & Makers

Leo de Vroomen

(1941-2025)

Leo de Vroomen’s jewellery is instantly recognisable for its bold sculptural presence, vibrant colour and unwavering commitment to craftsmanship. Born in Holland in the early years of the Second World War, de Vroomen was the youngest of eight siblings, raised on his family’s tulip farm. De Vroomen was apprenticed in The Hague before qualifying as a master goldsmith in Switzerland.

We are delighted to include a selection of jewels by Leo de Vroomen in our March 2026 Jewellery auction, a master of enamel jewels his bold designs are instantly recognisable and rare to the auction market.

Upcoming Jewellery Auction

Explore the full 04 March 2026 Jewellery auction, to take place live from Edinburgh & online.

Drawn to the energy of London, he worked for David Thomas – a key figure in the new wave of British jewellery design of the 1960s who was later appointed as the Crown Jeweller in 1991 - while also teaching at the Central School of Art and Design. Through teaching, de Vroomen met Ginnie Eleni in the 1970s whom he would go on to marry. Ginnie was studying metal work at the time, having initially focused on fashion design at Kingston School of Art.

Leo de Vroomen: An 18ct gold amethyst and green enamel ring

Leo and Ginnie’s partnership would also develop professionally, leading to the founding of De Vroomen Design Ltd. in 1976. Together they honed a distinctive aesthetic, uniting sculptural, organic metalwork with the delicate intricacy of enamelling. Gemstones, including diamonds, were employed to enhance rather than dominate the design — a subtle balance that became a hallmark of De Vroomen’s work.

Their jewels are expressive yet eminently wearable, defined by flowing lines, richly worked gold and vibrant enamel. Spanning five decades, their collaboration was widely acclaimed for its bold vision and meticulous craftsmanship.

Leo de Vroomen: A hematite and enamel necklace

While maintaining a successful international business, collaborating with the likes of De Beers and Boodles, Leo de Vroomen also generously devoted his time to supporting the development of others, including through his work with the Goldsmiths’ Centre. He was twice awarded the prestigious De Beers Diamonds International Award (in 1976 and 1984), and his work was further celebrated in a major retrospective exhibition at Goldsmiths’ Hall in 2017.

Quoted as saying, “However exciting visually, jewellery must also feel wonderful and function perfectly […]”, the work of Leo and Ginnie de Vroomen struck a remarkable balance between technical skill and the spark of creativity that makes their jewellery wearable works of art.