Mary van der Aa Iconic Jewels

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Mary van der Aa Iconic Jewels Architect of Iconic Jewels

Multiple AGTA Spectrum Awards Winner

Architectural platinum jewels built around rare and collectible gemstones.

Where rare gemstones become legend. 5X AGTA SPECTRUM AWARD WINNING DESIGNER 2022-23

Born with a burning desire to revolutionize the world of jewelry, Mary van der Aa is on a mission to save us from the ordinary. With an unwavering passion for jewelry as an art form, Mary envisions a world where pieces transcend traditional boundaries, embracing the abstract and the modern. In pursuit of nurturing her innate talent, she pursued a coveted education at the world-renowned Gemological Institute of America (GIA). Upon graduating, Mary found herself integrated into the very heart of where her dreams took shape. The institute recognized her exceptional talent and dedication, promptly offering her a position in Jewelry Manufacturing Arts. For Mary, teaching and working with students was more than just a job; it was a chance to inspire a new generation of artists who shared her abiding love for jewelry as a powerful medium of expression. In Mary's world, jewelry is not bound by mere adornment; it is a manifestation of creativity, emotion, and imagination. Mary pushes the boundaries of jewelry design, challenging conventional norms and redefining the very essence of what it means to wear a piece of art. Mary has garnered significant attention for her exquisite creations. With an impressive portfolio of work, her designs have been featured in numerous print publications and she has been invited as a guest on several esteemed podcasts. But that's not all - Mary's exceptional skills and creativity have also led her to design the Miss Denmark Beauty Pageant Crown, a prestigious accomplishment that speaks to her remarkable flair. In a career milestone, Mary was recognized in 2022 when she received three highly coveted AGTA Spectrum Awards, followed by two more in 2023. The awards not only acknowledged Mary's innovative designs but also underscored her profound influence in the jewelry industry. As Mary van der Aa continues to shape the landscape of the jewelry industry, her passion for design propels her forward. With each new creation, she showcases her ability to transcend boundaries, capturing the essence of beauty, sophistication, and contemporary style in her stunning pieces. Whether it is through the glossy pages of a magazine, the captivating words spoken during a podcast interview, or the enchanting Miss Denmark Beauty Pageant Crown that adorns heads, Mary's work leaves an indelible mark on all who encounter it.

10/03/2026

Meet GARANATUS - the legendary three-pound platinum tribute to one of the most diverse and misunderstood gemstone families on Earth: garnet.

The piece features 77 carats of rare garnets, deliberately selected to show just how extraordinary the garnet family can be. Reds, oranges, greens, purples, pinks and color-changing varieties — because garnet is so much more than the traditional dark-red stone most people picture.

How does one tell these beauties apart? Turn Garanatus over... each link is engraved on the back with the garnet variety and location.

It's part jewel, part sculpture, part mineralogical lesson - and completely over the top. Exactly as intended.

Garanatus is currently on exhibition at the Houston Museum of Natural Science, in the Hamill Hall of Gems and Minerals.
If you're in Houston, go see her in person.
Photographs simply don't convey what three pounds of platinum and 77 carats of garnets actually looks like.






|HallOfGems

09/14/2026

RHOMBIC DODECA-WHAT?! •
Rhombic dodecahedron.

It sounds complicated, but if you love garnets, you may have seen one before.

The rhombic dodecahedron is one of the natural crystal forms in which garnets can grow in the earth.

So when I designed Garanatus, I took that natural geometry and turned it into the architecture of the piece.

The necklace is made in two separate sections that magnetically come together to form a three-dimensional rhombic dodecahedron.

Why? Because apparently 77 carats of rare garnets and three pounds of platinum weren't complicated enough.
Nature created the shape.
I turned it into jewelry.

Garanatus — now on exhibition at the Houston Museum of Natural Science.





09/08/2026

They thought it was hideous.

The gemologists went crazy for it.

Then they put it in a magazine. 😏
(and a museum!)

That’s the thing about creating something no one has seen before — not everyone is going to understand it.

GARANATUS was never designed to be safe, subtle, or universally liked.

Three pounds of platinum.
77 carats of rare garnets.
A completely ridiculous idea that I refused to make less ridiculous.

Some hated it.
The gemologists understood it.

And now it’s on exhibition at the Houston Museum of Natural Science.

I’ll take that. 🖤

09/05/2026

Go big or go home.

77 carats later… I think you know which one I chose. 💎

Garanatus.
Three pounds of platinum.
77 carats of rare garnets.
One completely unreasonable idea brought to life.

Because ordinary was never really an option.

And a huge thank you to Todd for collecting these incredible garnets over the years — they were ridiculously fun to work with. ❤️

09/04/2026

WHO WEARS 3 POUNDS OF PLATINUM?

I f*+king do. 😏

Because when I created GARANATUS, subtle was never part of the plan.

Three pounds of platinum.
77 carats of rare garnets.
Years of collecting, designing, engineering, cutting, polishing—and more than a few people wondering if I’d completely lost my mind.

Then I wore it to the awards.

Now GARANATUS is on exhibition at the Houston Museum of Natural Science.

They thought I was crazy.

Maybe they were right. 🖤

Mary van der Aa | Architect of Iconic Jewels

09/03/2026

They thought I was crazy.

Maybe they were right.

Three troy pounds of platinum.

77 carats of rare garnets.
Years of collecting.
Countless hours of engineering, fabrication, risk, and absolute obsession.

I didn't design Garanatus to be reasonable.

I designed it to be unforgettable.

And now it's on exhibition at the Houston Museum of Natural Science.

Turns out crazy belongs in a museum.






Address

465 W St Marys Rd
Tucson, AZ
85701

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