As a goldsmith, I often get the opportunity to create unique and personalized pieces. This was also the case with the gold pendant I recently made for Joep Kruikemeier, a talented billiard player who competed in the Dutch Three-Belt Large Championship.
Joep, a key member of Team Nieuw Diemen, asked me to create a pendant that would reflect his passion for billiards. The result was a beautiful piece with billiard sticks and billiard balls made of gold.
The pendant features two elegantly crossed billiard sticks, symbolic of the precision and skill the game requires. Between the sticks are three small billiard balls. These balls represent the three bands used in the game, a subtle nod to the skill and strategy required to win.
Team Nieuw Diemen has an impressive record and worked its way up to the Dutch Three-Belt Large Championship. This prestigious tournament drew 77 teams from all over the country, all vying for the coveted championship trophy.
It was an honor to personally present the pendant to Joep. As a goldsmith, this was one of those moments when you are really proud of your work. Creating a pendant that tells a story, immortalizes a memory and at the same time is a piece of craftsmanship remains one of the most beautiful aspects of this craft.
Congratulations to Team New Diemen on their impressive achievement; and thank you Joep, for trusting my work. May you celebrate many more successes, both at the billiard table and beyond.
