Coming Winter edition: January 12th - 28th 2026
Coming Summer edition: June 22th - 29th 2026

The Jewelrers’ Retreat

Winters & Summers · 1 week · Ardennes, Belgium

Starting January 2026, in the heart of the Belgian Ardennes, I invite you into a one-of-a-kind retreat — a week to step away from the demands of production and rediscover the essence of why you create, whether you are just beginning your journey or seeking to refine years of practice.

Set in a restored château where quality meets soul, every detail — from the natural textures of the space to meals crafted by local chefs — is designed to restore your senses, nourish your creativity, and open you to new perspectives.

Time slows down, and space opens for both deep rest and renewed artistry.

For new + experienced jewelry professionals

This retreat is for jewelers who long to create differently — not only at the bench, but in the way they live, lead, and sustain their practice. It is for those who want their work to feel intentional and premium, a true reflection of their essence rather than industry pressure.

  • If you are newer, you will strengthen your foundations, refine essential techniques, and explore inspiring ways to shape your passion into a business — with access to trusted suppliers, setters, and resources that make your path forward clearer.

  • If you are more experienced, this is a space to refine your artistry, deepen advanced techniques, and reconnect with the joy that first drew you to the bench. You will explore new creative directions, expand your repertoire with fresh skills, and open perspectives on how to position your work and elevate your business into something both sustainable and deeply aligned with who you are.

    Wherever you are on your path, you will leave not only with renewed creativity and refined techniques, but with a clearer sense of your unique strengths, a mindset rooted in alignment, and the inspiration that comes from creating in circle with other visionaries of the craft.

The pillars of the retreat

This retreat is a sanctuary for reconnecting with the heart of your craft. Away from deadlines and production demands, you will slow down and create with presence. Each day at the bench becomes an invitation to strengthen your foundations, refine techniques, and experiment with new approaches.

Learning here is never rushed — it is intentional, precise, and deeply guided. You will receive demonstrations, one-on-one feedback, and the spacious time needed for every gesture to become both confident and alive. Beyond technique, this pillar invites you to rediscover what inspires you, to recognize your strengths, and to shape jewelry that carries your unique vision into the world.

Learning & creation

Beauty & harmony

The château and its surroundings are woven into the learning itself. Beauty is everywhere — in the light-filled rooms, the spa’s warmth, and the meals crafted by chefs as seasonal works of art.

This is not beauty as ornament, but as essence — a way of living that reminds you that refinement, presence, and care are at the root of true artistry. Immersed in this atmosphere, your senses are restored, and harmony returns naturally. You begin to see that the way you live, rest, and nourish yourself is inseparable from the way you create — and that a truly premium practice is built as much on inner balance as on outer skill.

Connection & presence

Finally, the retreat is an intimate circle of eight jewelers, each bringing her own story and artistry. In this shared space, presence becomes a practice: listening deeply, exchanging perspectives, and creating side by side in both silence and conversation.

Here, you will not find competition but resonance — the recognition that every voice has value, and that community can illuminate what we cannot always see in ourselves. Through dialogue and reflection, you discover fresh perspectives on both craft and business, and the encouragement to create in ways that feel aligned, authentic, and premium. Connection here is not fleeting; it nourishes and stays with you long after you leave.

After reading your answers, I will likely invite you to a call to feel if our energies match. During this conversation, I will share all details about the retreat, including the investment and payment options.

About your host - Emma Olyff

I am Emma Olyff — jewelry designer, coach, and guide. My path was shaped by a lineage of artists and artisans in Belgium, by apprenticeships across Europe and the US, and by more than a decade of creating jewelry that carries stories, symbols, and transformation. Today, I design high-end custom pieces and guide other professionals in refining their craft and elevating their business with alignment and presence.

Alongside my jewelry practice, I have coached hundreds of women in creating premium offers, sustainable pricing, and practices rooted in authenticity. What I have learned — and now love to share — is that our artistry and our business are inseparable. When we refine our techniques, reconnect with our creative voice, and embrace new models of working, our entire practice can transform.

At this retreat, I will bring together advanced technical guidance, personal creative reflection, and visionary business conversations. My aim is not only to help you sharpen your skills, but to support you in stepping back, seeing the bigger picture, and aligning your work with the deeper life you want to live.

Included in the retreat are:

A small coffee thermos filled with black brewed coffee and coffee beans inside, placed on a dusty surface.

Accommodation
– 7 days, 6 nights in a Château in the Ardennes
– Private luxurious room with double bed and en-suite bathroom (with bath)
– Full access to spa (hammam, sauna, outdoor hot tub, relaxation room) and pool
– Vintage home cinema for evenings of rest and inspiration
– Daily meals prepared by three professional chefs (seasonal, nourishing, and beautifully presented, with floral arrangements)

Stay & Rhythm (all optional & included)
– Guided circle moment to open and close the week
– 45 min. group yoga class every morning
– Forest walks in the surrounding area of the Chateau
– One massage per guest offered, additional available on demand

Workshops & Creation
– Advanced guidance and exploration of new techniques and perspectives
– + conversation & workshops about different jewelry business models, presence & energies
– Guided custom jewelry experience from start to finish
– Step-by-step support with your design and making process
– Materials, tools, and creation supplies

In addition (optional + included)
– Professional pictures: portraits + while creating (for your websites & social medias)
– Access to the Whatsapp group of the retreat to stay connected with the group
– Acces to our online school (classes of jewelry making, create your own website, how to set your prices…)
– One deep qualitative feedback on your website + ways to improve it

All details about the retreat, including the investment and payment options will be shared in a call after you apply.

Person handling gold jewelry, including necklaces, with jewelry tools in a jewelry-making or repair setting.
A person using a polishing machine to clean or polish a small metallic ring.

The schedule

Each day is designed with a rhythm that weaves together creation, inspiration, and rest. There is space to work on your jewel, time to share in circle, and moments to simply enjoy the beauty of the Ardennes.

  • • Afternoon arrival at the château (time to settle in your room)
    • Welcome drink & introduction circle
    • Local & seasonal dinner prepared by our chefs

  • Morning:
    • Optional morning yoga & breakfast
    • Workshop: from design to shaping; mindful making as a practice of slowness

    Afternoon:
    • Shared local & seasonal lunch prepared by our chefs
    • Guided bench time (form development & refinement)
    • Optional massage, forest walk or spa time

    Evening:
    • Local & seasonal dinner prepared by our chefs
    • Vintage home-cinema moment (optional) or journaling & rest

  • Morning
    • Focused studio work: wax carving, refining details
    • Piece ready for casting or forming
    • Seasonal & healthy lunch prepared for you

    Afternoon
    • Optional outing: waterfalls, forest trails, or downtown Asheville
    • Time to relax or journal
    • Seasonal and healthy dinner prepared for you or a reservation at a local favorite (optional)

  • Morning:
    • Optional morning yoga & breakfast
    • Workshop: design evolution, textures & details; creative perspective talk

    Afternoon:
    • Shared local & seasonal lunch prepared by our chefs
    • One-on-one support & guided studio time (toward final form)
    • Relaxation by the pool, gardens or spa

    Evening:
    • Local & seasonal dinner prepared by our chefs
    • Circle conversation on the meaning of jewelry & storytelling through symbols

  • Morning:
    • Optional morning yoga & breakfast
    • Workshop: advanced guidance; soldering, structure & fit (as relevant)

    Afternoon:
    • Shared local & seasonal lunch prepared by our chefs
    • Floral or cooking workshop (optional)
    • Forest walk, relaxation or spa time

    Evening:
    • Local & seasonal dinner prepared by our chefs
    • Gentle sharing: what is emerging in your piece & in you

  • Morning:
    • Optional morning yoga & breakfast
    • Workshop: fine refinement, finishing techniques & surface care

    Afternoon:
    • Shared local & seasonal lunch prepared by our chefs
    • Optional massage / quiet reflection time / light studio touch-ups
    • Spa, pool or nature pause

    Evening:
    • Local & seasonal dinner prepared by our chefs
    • Free time

  • Morning:
    • Optional morning yoga & breakfast
    • Final workshop: polishing, final checks & care instructions

    Afternoon:
    • Shared local & seasonal lunch prepared by our chefs
    • Presentation & photography of finished jewels
    • Rest, spa or a last forest walk

    Evening:
    • Celebration dinner prepared by our chefs
    • Closing circle

  • Morning:
    • Breakfast
    • Farewell gathering & departures by 9:00

Close-up of a textured white surface with five small, pastel-colored objects resembling stylized eggs or seashells, arranged in two rows.

Rediscover Your Art, Redefine Your Path

At the heart of the Professional Edition is a profound immersion — one that touches not only your artistry, but also your business and your sense of self. It is more than a workshop: it is a reset, a renewal, and a reimagining of what your jewelry practice can be.

Before the retreat, you will complete reflective questionnaires that help us map your strengths, your challenges, and your aspirations. This ensures the week is tailored to you — so that every moment, from the bench to the circle, feels intentional, personal, and transformative.

Throughout the retreat, you will move through a rhythm that weaves hands-on mastery with deep reflection:

  • Technical refinement: focused demonstrations and one-on-one feedback in stone-setting, soldering, texturing, wax carving, and finishing — skills that expand the possibilities of your art.

  • Creative rediscovery: time to experiment, to flow at your own rhythm, and to remember the joy of presence in every gesture.

  • Visionary business practices: conversations that open new perspectives, exploring premium models, sustainable pricing, and ways of positioning your jewelry so it supports both your artistry and your financial independence.

  • Personal discovery: guided reflections that reveal your design philosophy, reconnect you with why you create, and illuminate your unique path forward.

  • Community inspiration: exchanges with peers walking their own journeys, offering fresh approaches to creation, business, and living fully as an artist.

A person is holding a small ring near a rotary jewelry polishing machine.

This retreat is designed to transform the way you see yourself as a jeweler and as a woman. You will not only leave with new skills and perspectives, but also with clarity about your strengths, inspiration from others’ stories, and a renewed confidence in the value of your work.

When you return home, you will carry more than refined techniques. You will carry a new relationship to your art, a deeper alignment in your business, and the conviction that your jewelry practice can be both creatively fulfilling and financially sustainable.

This retreat is meant to feel life-changing — structured with the depth, beauty, and intention to ensure that your investment is not only worthwhile, but continues to ripple into your art, your business, and your life long after you leave.

The location, the Chateau

The retreat unfolds within a historic château in the heart of the Ardennes, embraced by ancient forests, wide meadows, and quiet gardens. The setting balances elegance and warmth: high ceilings and wooden beams, light pouring through tall windows that open onto nature. Every space is designed to invite calm and presence — from the luminous salons and library to the hammam, sauna, and outdoor hot tub that await you.

Meals are experiences in themselves: seasonal dishes prepared by chefs who treat food as art, served in a dining room both refined and intimate. Tables dressed with flowers and candlelight invite you to linger in conversation and savor beauty with each bite. Between sessions, you might rest by the pool, wander barefoot through the gardens, or slip into the vintage home cinema for a quiet moment of inspiration.

The entire domain carries a sense of seclusion and ease. Time softens here, and space opens for your creativity to unfold without effort. Beauty is not an addition — it lives in every detail, creating an atmosphere that holds, restores, and gently guides you back to your art.

The philosophy

This retreat invites you into a different rhythm — one where your artistry and your business grow side by side, guided by presence, inspiration, and community. It is not only about refining techniques, but about embracing a new way of thinking about jewelry: as a practice that is premium, sustainable, and deeply aligned with who you are.

Far from deadlines and daily demands, surrounded by forests, gardens, and the quiet beauty of the château, your pace softens. Time expands, the mind clears, and your practice comes into view from a higher perspective. In this spaciousness, new models of creation and business emerge — ones that honor your strengths, value your time, and connect you more deeply with your clients and community.

Each day unfolds with gentle structure: unhurried mornings, meals crafted with care, and studio sessions that weave hands-on learning with dialogue, reflection, and strategy. Inspiration is not limited to the bench — it rises just as much from shared conversations, new approaches you witness in others, and stories that reframe what is possible for your path.

Here, being together is part of the teaching. You may hear how another jeweler shapes her business, see a technique that shifts your own design approach, or exchange an idea that sparks clarity for your next step. The group itself becomes a living model of collaboration and inspiration, reminding you that artistry is not meant to be solitary.

This retreat is designed to renew both mastery and mindset. You will leave with refined skills, yes — but also with vision, inspiration, and the confidence to shape a jewelry practice that is financially viable, creatively alive, and rooted in authentic connection.

All details about the retreat, including the investment and payment options will be shared in a call after you apply.

The investment

Included in your retreat experience:

  • Accommodation

    • 7 days / 6 nights in a private en-suite room at a château in the Ardennes

    • Full access to spa (hammam, sauna, hot tub, pool, relaxation room) & vintage cinema

    Cuisine

    • Daily chef-prepared meals with seasonal ingredients

    • Morning & afternoon nourishing snacks

    Wellness & Rhythm

    • Opening & closing circles

    • Morning yoga & guided forest walks

    • One massage (extra sessions available)

    Workshops & Creation

    • 20+ hours of personal guidance from Emma

    • Full custom jewelry experience from design to finished piece

    • All tools, silver & gold provided

    Inspiration & Business

    • 10+ hours of talks on premium business models & alignment

    • Conversations on presence, pricing & creative strategy

    Professional Assets

    • Portrait & process photography

    • Access to online school + WhatsApp group

    • One deep feedback session on your website


12 000.- per participant

  • 0% vat + considered as professional expense

  • Flexible installment plans available
    1x 12 000.-
    3x 4100.-
    6x 2200

  • The retreat takes place in the quiet beauty of the Belgian Ardennes, within a historic château surrounded by forests and gardens. A place to slow down, connect, and feel deeply inspired.

  • Travel is simple. Guests make their own way to the retreat, but we can help coordinate carpooling with other participants or arrange a pickup from nearby train stations or airports if needed. Whether you come by car, train, or shared ride, arriving is easy — and from the moment you step onto the grounds, everything else is fully taken care of.

  • This retreat is for jewelers who long to create and live differently — not only at the bench, but in the way they sustain their practice, connect with clients, and honor their own rhythm.

    It is for you if you already know how to make jewelry — whether you are in your first year of business and seeking clarity and support, or further along and ready to refine your artistry, expand your skills, and reimagine your business in a more premium, sustainable, and aligned way.

    You may be:

    • A jeweler 6 months to a few years into your journey, longing for guidance, trusted resources, and a strong foundation for your practice.

    • An established jeweler who feels caught between client work and your own designs, seeking inspiration, structure, and a renewed sense of joy at the bench.

    • A creator who wishes to align your artistry with a business model that feels intentional, premium, and financially sustainable.

    Wherever you are on your path, the retreat offers a pause from daily demands and a circle of peers who, like you, are ready to deepen their craft, expand their vision, and create a jewelry practice that feels both alive and aligned.

  • The retreat is intentionally kept intimate, with a maximum of eight participants.

    This small circle ensures that every jeweler receives personal guidance, space to create at her own rhythm, and the depth of connection that only a close group can offer. It is in this intimacy that presence, resonance, and true inspiration unfold.

  • Everything you need for the week:

    • Private accommodation in the château (with en-suite and spa access)

    • Chef-prepared seasonal meals and nourishing snacks

    • Daily yoga and guided forest walks (optional)

    • One massage included

    • Over 30 hours of workshops, demonstrations, and one-on-one feedback

    • All tools and materials (including silver and gold for your design)

    • Professional portraits and process photography

    • Ongoing access to our retreat WhatsApp group + feedback on your website or portfolio

  • The investment for this retreat will be shared with you personally during our call, after you complete the short questionnaire.

    My intention is that it feels not only like a week of immersion, but like a seed for the years ahead. What you receive here — refined techniques, visionary business practices, a renewed creative mindset, and the support of a circle of peers — is designed to multiply in value.

    My hope is that this experience helps you reduce the hours you work, elevate the way you create, and shape a jewelry business that feels both financially sustainable and creatively alive.

    This is an investment meant to return itself many times over — not only in income, but in clarity, confidence, and alignment. Flexible installment options are available, so you can choose the rhythm of payment that supports you best.

  • You’ll receive a detailed guide after booking. But in short: bring soft, comfortable clothes, a notebook for your reflections, shoes for walking in the forest, and anything small that helps you feel at home.

F.A.Q.

  • All meals are prepared for you by our chefs, using seasonal and organic ingredients, with care for every dietary preference — plant-based, gluten-free, or omnivore. Breakfasts, lunches, and three-course dinners are served at set times, always nourishing and beautifully presented, with morning and afternoon snacks to keep your energy gentle and steady. Every table is dressed with flowers, making each meal not only food, but a moment of care and beauty shared together.

  • Yes, absolutely. We take this seriously. Upon booking, you’ll be invited to share anything we should know—so that every detail can be adjusted to your needs, in advance.

  • Unless everyone speaks fluently french, the retreat will be guided in English, as it allows participants from different countries to share and connect in a common language.

    You do not need to be perfectly fluent — what matters is your openness to listen, share, and create together. The circle is held with patience and presence, so everyone feels at ease.

  • Yes — this specific retreat is designed for jewelers who already know how to work at the bench. You do not need to be a master goldsmith, but you should feel comfortable with basic techniques and be ready to deepen your artistry, refine advanced skills, and explore how to align your business with your creative vision.

  • Yes. Many jewelers who join have already built their own brand or practice. The retreat is not about starting from zero, but about stepping back from daily demands to refine and elevate.

    You will have space to deepen advanced techniques, explore new creative directions, and rethink the way your business can feel more aligned, premium, and sustainable.

    Even if your brand is established, the combination of hands-on refinement, visionary business practices, and the inspiration of being in circle with other professionals can open new perspectives and give you clarity on your next chapter.

  • That is absolutely welcome. Many jewelers join after 6 months to 2 years in business, looking for clarity, support, and inspiration. You’ll receive step-by-step guidance tailored to your level, while also benefiting from the perspectives of more experienced peers. The intimate circle allows for both personal feedback and shared learning.

  • You’ll receive focused demonstrations and one-on-one feedback in areas such as stone setting, wax carving, soldering, texturing, and finishing. The exact flow adapts to the group’s needs. More than just techniques, the retreat is about re-discovering your design language and learning to infuse your work with intention.

  • Alongside creation, we’ll hold conversations and workshops on premium business models, sustainable pricing, client alignment, and how to position your jewelry so it supports both your artistry and your livelihood. These circles are often transformative — many participants leave with new clarity on how to value their work and structure their practice.

  • This retreat is not a traditional course where you rush to learn techniques at the bench. It is a complete immersion — a week where artistry, presence, and community weave together.

    Yes, you will refine your skills and receive hands-on guidance, but just as importantly, you will slow down, reconnect with your story, and create in a way that feels intentional and deeply personal.

    Beyond jewelry-making, the retreat nourishes every layer of your practice: the way you live, the rhythm you create in, the way you relate to your clients, and the confidence you hold in the value of your work.

    It is as much about transformation as it is about technique — leaving you not only with a piece of jewelry, but with clarity, inspiration, and a renewed sense of alignment.

  • Everything you need for the week:

    • Private accommodation in the château (with en-suite and spa access)

    • Chef-prepared seasonal meals and nourishing snacks

    • Daily yoga and guided forest walks (optional)

    • One massage included

    • Over 30 hours of workshops, demonstrations, and one-on-one feedback

    • All tools and materials (including silver and gold for your design)

    • Professional portraits and process photography

    • Ongoing access to our retreat WhatsApp group + feedback on your website or portfolio

  • The investment for this retreat will be shared with you personally during our call, after you complete the short questionnaire.

    My intention is that it feels not only like a week of immersion, but like a seed for the years ahead. What you receive here — refined techniques, visionary business practices, a renewed creative mindset, and the support of a circle of peers — is designed to multiply in value.

    My hope is that this experience helps you reduce the hours you work, elevate the way you create, and shape a jewelry business that feels both financially sustainable and creatively alive.

    This is an investment meant to return itself many times over — not only in income, but in clarity, confidence, and alignment. Flexible installment options are available, so you can choose the rhythm of payment that supports you best.

  • The retreat is designed as an intimate, curated experience, which is why every participant goes through a short application.

    1. You begin by filling out a 5-minute questionnaire, where you share a little about your background, your desires, and what you hope to create or explore.

    2. After reviewing your answers, I will invite you to a private call. This is a gentle conversation where we feel into whether the retreat is the right fit for you, and I share all practical details — including the investment and payment options.

    3. If it feels aligned for both of us, you confirm your spot with a deposit, and your place in the circle is held.

    The application is not an exam. It is a way to honor the intimacy of the group, ensure that energies align, and make sure you will feel fully supported and inspired during the retreat.

"Emma is fantastic. After Sam bought one of the rings from her collection as engagement ring... We immediately thought about her when we discussed our wedding bands. We went to her with an idea and she turned it into reality. She sent us the prototypes of the rings in very short time and they were already perfect 🥰 We loved chatting with her and discussing ideas. We can't wait to have another jewellery project in our head just to work with her again." Rox & Sam

"Emma is fantastic. After Sam bought one of the rings from her collection as engagement ring... We immediately thought about her when we discussed our wedding bands. We went to her with an idea and she turned it into reality. She sent us the prototypes of the rings in very short time and they were already perfect 🥰 We loved chatting with her and discussing ideas. We can't wait to have another jewellery project in our head just to work with her again." Rox & Sam

"We called on Emma for a rather special request. We had some old jewelry belonging to my grandmother. Unfortunately, they were no longer to our taste. So my mom and my sister and I wanted to create something that would unite the three of us. As my mom already had a gold band, we decided to ask Emma to create 2 other identical bands, as well as a ring from her existing collection. Emma listened, advised and, above all, explained the whole creation process! We were really able to follow the whole process, step by step. I'm so happy to have called on her magnificent talent and creativity for this project, which was very close to our hearts. What's more, supporting a young craftswoman was essential for us."

"We called on Emma for a rather special request. We had some old jewelry belonging to my grandmother. Unfortunately, they were no longer to our taste. So my mom and my sister and I wanted to create something that would unite the three of us. As my mom already had a gold band, we decided to ask Emma to create 2 other identical bands, as well as a ring from her existing collection. Emma listened, advised and, above all, explained the whole creation process! We were really able to follow the whole process, step by step. I'm so happy to have called on her magnificent talent and creativity for this project, which was very close to our hearts. What's more, supporting a young craftswoman was essential for us."