About the Empress

The Empress of the Antwerp Bird Market: The Legacy of Mia Verbeeck

“Diamonds may be the heart of Antwerp, but the soul was found in the vibrant stalls of the Bird Market.”

For decades, Mia Verbeeck was a legendary figure in the historic heart of Antwerp. As the first woman ever to be crowned 'Empress of the Antwerp Bird Market' in 1973—one of the city’s most iconic and prestigious cultural landmarks—she was more than a merchant. She was a curator of beauty, a pioneer of styling, and a self-taught master of gemology.

A Vault Unlocked Mia’s work was defined by a unique philosophy: gemstones were not just ornaments, but carriers of character and tradition. She meticulously hand-wrote guides on the symbolic and ancient meanings of minerals, from deep-red amethysts to rare Mexican opals.

Today, Babiche Bijoux is the proud guardian of her extraordinary 'deadstock' collection. Over 75,000 original, unworn pieces—carefully preserved in her private vault for decades—are now being brought back into the light.

A Piece of History When you acquire a certified gemstone from this collection, you are not simply buying a stone. You are preserving the heritage of an Antwerp icon who believed that elegance and personal meaning go hand in hand. Every stone is a time capsule, in the exact same pristine condition as it was the day it entered the vault.

The Empress of Antwerp Craftsmanship

Mia Verbeeck was a well-known figure within Antwerp’s historic market culture and fashion scene. Her work and personality earned her several honorary distinctions that reflected both her craftsmanship and her connection with the public.

She became the first woman to receive the title of Empress of the Antwerp Vogelenmarkt in 1973, one of the city’s most iconic markets, and was repeatedly recognized as a laureate of the Rubens Festival Market in 1978, celebrating excellence in traditional craftsmanship and presentation.

A Pioneer in Styling & Gemology

Mia’s work extended beyond jewelry design. She combined aesthetics with education, building her creations around two central ideas.

The Art of the Scarf
Through her scarf rings and clips, Mia introduced new ways for women to wear and style accessories. Her original guides documented techniques such as the V-neck drape and the half-knot styling method, many of which are preserved today alongside the collection.

The Wisdom of Stones
Her fascination with minerals led her to write extensive handwritten guides on gemstones and their symbolic and traditional meanings. From deep amethysts to rare opals, each stone was selected not only for beauty but for character and significance.

A Time Capsule of Elegance

Every piece offered by Babiche Bijoux — from articulated Hong Kong designs to certified gemstone pieces — represents an authentic fragment of history. These items have never been worn and remain exactly as they left the original atelier.

By choosing a Mia Verbeeck piece, you are not simply wearing jewelry, but carrying forward the legacy of an Antwerp designer who believed that elegance and personal meaning belong together.