Piece of the Week: Tejen’s ‘Candy Bowl’ Torque Necklace
The necklace features a candy-colored Australian white opal in 18-karat Fairmined gold, as the brand was named a Fairmined ambassador.

Fine jewelry brand Tejen took the glimmer of a sweet bowl filled with candy and turned it into a piece of jewelry with its “Candy Bowl” torque.
The necklace features a candy-colored Australian white opal in an oblong bowl setting on a disc-shaped pendant made of 18-karat Fairmined yellow gold. The pendant connects to the torque via “Rock Sugar” chain links accented with 0.48 carats of diamonds.
The piece was one of the final designs created for Tejen’s latest “Rock Sugar” collection, “like icing the cake,” said Mark Kroeker, founder and artistic director of Tejen.
He explained that Australian white opals always attracted him because they look like hard candy.
However, the idea came to life when he was visiting an artist friend who had used super shiny small spoons during a catered event. Kroeker placed the opals on the spoon and began photographing the light effects in the opals as they moved on the silverware.
“It’s a kinetic collection—lapidary and gold spheres spin on axis, crushes of pavé chain slide on gold bar bells and here, with the torque, the fire of the opal is in constant movement as it spins in the reflective gold bowl,” said Kroeker.
The brand said the pendant was created as a minimalist sculpture that is an exploration of larger volumes in gold, but it also ushers in Kroeker becoming an ambassador of the Fairmined Gold Initiative.
Kroeker and the brand received the distinction last month, which is different from being Fairmined certified.
As an ambassador, the brand must embody a deeper commitment to sustainability, ethical sourcing, and advocacy for responsible artisanal and small-scale mining.
This includes being an active advocate, investing directly in mining communities through social impact projects, and being committed to ethical innovation, along with using Fairmined certified gold in all of the brand’s jewelry.
The Fairmined standard was created by the Alliance for Responsible Mining, a nonprofit that supports the development of artisanal and small-scale mining communities.
“As Tejen approaches its 10th anniversary, we are profoundly honored to be named a Fairmined ambassador, a distinction that reflects our commitment to the use of Fairmined gold in fine jewelry and objet d'art,” said Kroeker.
“This ambassadorship reinforces our dedication to responsible sourcing; the preservation, safety, and fair treatment of small artisanal mining communities through our support of The Alliance of Responsible Mining; The Fairmined Organization; and the belief that true luxury is defined not only by refinement but by integrity and purpose.”
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