Scandinavian Design Jewelry

Reindeer Antler Jewelry by Ainut from Finnish Lapland

noreply@blogger.com (American Finn) — Sat, 13 Nov 2010 02:47:00 +0000

Ainut is located in central Lapland in Finland. It's a company of two artisans, Ari Jarvenpaa (Lake's End) and Milla Pahajoki (Bad River) and they make traditional Sami style reindeer antler and silver jewelry among with antler crafts (duodji) and shaman drums. Very unique and exceptional pieces!

Kalevala Koru sale until 10/17/10

noreply@blogger.com (American Finn) — Sun, 10 Oct 2010 16:37:00 +0000

All Kalevala Koru jewelry is on 12% sale until 10/17/10. Use promocode kalevala10 when checking out!

New Kalevala Koru Dragon series

noreply@blogger.com (American Finn) — Thu, 10 Jun 2010 21:50:00 +0000

This is new, but yet old Kalevala Koru series: Dragon.

The fire-spewing dragon is a giant lizard-like fantasy creature, known in myths all over the world. In Scandinavian mythology there are several sagas of dragon slaying heroes... the best known might be Sigurd who had a special sword to kill the dragon. He ate the dragon's heart and was able to understand the language of the birds...

In the first centuries AD in Scandinavia, men of power used to wear golden neck rings, skilfully crafted and decorated with fantastic animal heads, as a sign of their status. The design of this piece of jewelry has been inspired by a golden neck ring, probably dating from the Roman Iron Age, that was found in Nousiainen in 1770. The Nousiainen neck ring is unique among prehistoric objects found in Finland.

Reino Saastamoinen Designs

noreply@blogger.com (American Finn) — Sun, 13 Dec 2009 18:08:00 +0000

I just came across some old Reino Saastamoinen bronze jewelry from late 1960's... what a great funky designs! Saastamoinen used raw Finnish stones in his designs and they all have some what primitive look to them. I just love his style! Aren't they gorgeous!

The top one is bronze with zoisite and the bottom one bronze with tiger eye.

Eco Friendly Jewelry from Finland

noreply@blogger.com (American Finn) — Fri, 31 Jul 2009 15:17:00 +0000

This is an innovative line of jewelry by Secco! Made of recycled cell phone key pads and zippers!

SECCO consists of an enthusiastic group of people, among which you can find designers, producers, and material collectors. The network is based on criteria that unites makers and users: innovation, quality, cooperation and sustainability.

The raw materials are acquired from various waste collection and recycling companies. Many of these are social enterprises, who strive to employ long-term unemployed, people with disabilities or immigrants.

The SECCO workshop was established in spring 2002 in Petäjävesi and moved 2006 to Jyväskylä, Central Finland. There young professionals from the field of crafts and industrial design work and innovate. In their laboratory materials and production methods are tested in various ways. It is an open ground for experimenting with ideas.

You can find Secco jewelry by clicking any of the pictures above.

Finnish Retro Jewelry Designers

noreply@blogger.com (American Finn) — Sun, 01 Feb 2009 05:36:00 +0000

There were quite a few exceptional designers who put Finnish jewelry on the world map... here are some of them...

Professor Björn Weckström, Finnish sculptor and jewellery designer, has worked for Lapponia Jewelry since 1963. The gold nuggets Björn Weckström found in Lapland in the early 1960s were the start of an entirely new jewellery design, a design inspired by nature. A forerunner in his field, the artist breaks the traditional concepts of jewelry design by boldly combining different materials.

In the 60s Pentti Sarpaneva came with his wonderful bronze creations exploiting rough surfaces and unpolished gemstones, They had a look of volcanic lava flowing over them. He produced Folk jewelry as well but even here there was still an untamed rather than traditional feel to his designs.

Pentti Sarpeneva (1925- 1978) , brother of the more famous Timo, also played with bronze, often warming it up with amethyst, rose and smoke quartz, all natural stones found in his homeland, Finland. Sarpaneva combined modern with revival of ancient or at least traditional styles. His son, Stephan continues family traditions with his unique design watches.

Jorma Laine, best known as Finnish goldsmith and jewelry designer for Kultateollisuus and Turun Hopea, especially in 1960's and 1970's. His most impressive jewelry designs are made of silver, bronze and cut glass. The production of these and his other modern jewelry has been quite limited.

His contemporary jewelry pieces are extremely desirable around the world and not without reason! Laine's retro style is very original and distinctive.

Rainbow Jewelry ~ Spectrolite Art from Finland

noreply@blogger.com (American Finn) — Thu, 30 Oct 2008 21:37:00 +0000

Rainbow Jewelry has specialized Spectrolite jewelry in silver and gold settings.

Spectrolite was discovered quite by accident in 1940 during the Second World War, when stones were being quarried along Finland's eastern border for the purpose of making antitank obstacles, which makes it a more recent discovery than the well-known Labradorite from Canada.

Spectrolite is Finland national stone. As each country is entitled to name its own gemstones, Professor Aarne Laitakari, then Director of the Geological Survey of Finland, chose the name ”Spectrolite”, obviously having in mind the spectrum, the colors of which are visual poetry. Also is said to be that colors reflect the nature of Finland: blue is born from the glittering of thousands lakes, green is the reflection of our country’s wilderness forest. Yellow, red and oranges are glowing brilliant colors of fall foliage in autumn.

The Spectrolite is regarded by gemologists as the world's most beautiful labradorite.

Finnfeelings Modern Design Jewelry from Finland

noreply@blogger.com (American Finn) — Fri, 28 Sep 2007 00:03:00 +0000

Finnfeelings has during its more than 30 years long history produces the creations of many well known designers. The foundation was laid in the end of the 1960 by two goldsmiths Karl Laine and Hans Sten. Although all designers have their own style some features of the work of Laine and Sten is still to be seen in the design of the Jewelry of today. They were followed by Hannu Ikonen, Juhani Valo and Pertti Peuri.

Finnfeelings is a family-run business manufacturing Finnish design jewellery in 9 ct, 14 ct, 18 ct Gold and 925 Sterling Silver. The collections comprise pendants, rings, bangles, bracelets and necklaces with the same theme. The gem stones are rock crystals, spectrolite, topaz, diamonds, ruby and sapphire.

The factory and office is situated in Littoinen near Turku in Finland.
Every collection is designed by outstanding Scandinavian Designer as Björn Jägerstig, Bernt Högkvist, Risto Ilmonen and Gerold Gerdes.

Risto Ilmonen is working for Finnfeelings Oy in Finland. He has a long working history in the company. Goldsmith Risto Ilmonen has during 5-6 last years designed jewelry for the company, mostly oxidized silver but also in gold with rock-crystals.

Master Goldsmith Bernt Högkvist from Stockholm, Sweden has an own ateljé in the Old Town of Stockholm. He has created a long range of different jewellery in gold and silver. For Finnfeelings he has designed two collections, Andante and Largo.

Every piece of jewelry is hand made and of high quality. They are sold at affordable prices in more than 1000 shops throughout Europe with a specific marketing concept.

All Finnfeelings products are marked by their sponsor’s mark. It stands for original Finnish Jewelry with classic and distinct Scandinavian design, durable and affordable Jewelry already worn by two generations.

All sold items are always according to title as the alloy used in our Jewelry is frequently checked by INSPECTA OY, the Assay Office in Finland.

Ainut ~ Jewelry of Lapland

noreply@blogger.com (American Finn) — Mon, 17 Sep 2007 16:40:00 +0000

Ainut is located in Inari, North Eastern Lapland, 190 miles north from the Arctic Circle. It employs two local artisans: Ari Jarvenpaa (Lake's End) and Milla Pahajoki (Bad River) who have specialized silver and reindeer antler jewelry and traditional Lapland crafts like shaman drums and reindeer antler carvings.

Ainut has unique way to combine silver, reindeer antler and Finnish stones in their jewelry.

Sami handicrafts, duodji, are made with nature's materials and often have soft rounded shapes that are pleasing to the touch but are mainly functional. Traditional objects have kept the same designs and make statements through their intensive ornamentation. Decorating was, and is, an important part of the handicraft, in part to display the maker's technical skills, but also to preserve family and cultural patterns.

The reindeer plays a big part in Lapland culture; it is the basis for many materials, everyday objects and food produce. It is important to the Sami to learn everything about reindeer and this knowledge is passed on not only through formal education but also by word of mouth from generation to generation. Everything from the reindeer is kept and used: skin and horns are the basis for shoes and knives, meat is used in cooking and in further processing.

Kalevala Koru ~ Kalevala Jewelry

noreply@blogger.com (American Finn) — Mon, 13 Aug 2007 02:11:00 +0000

Kalevala Koru designs, produces and sells high quality gold, silver and bronze jewelry. Kalevala Koru is the largest jewelry manufacturer in Finland and one of the largest in Scandinavia. The ground of design is strongly based on Finnish and Scandinavian culture combining the historical heritage with modern life alike. All jewelry is manufactured in Finland.

The story of Kalevala Koru (Jewelry) began in 1935, when the city of Helsinki celebrated the 100th anniversary of Finnish national epic, Kalevala. A writer Elsa Heporauta was so inspired by the centenary that she started to contemplate a way to recognize the strength of our national heritage captured in the Kalevala, and to bring the ancient culture embodied in it back to life.
Elsa Heporauta gathered a group of progressive Finnish women who shared the same desire to create something tangible to express respect to the women of the Kalevala. A committee was founded to raise funds for a monument in honor of the Finnish Woman. The initial attempt to raise money for the monument by public subscription yielded very limited results. In spring 1937, a proposal arose to make replicas of ancient jewelry and the sales of it would be donated to the monument fund.

Instead of the original plan for four, forty items were chosen and sketched from the collections in the National Museum of Finland. The jewelry was made and went on sale in autumn 1937. However, the plan for building a monument gradually faded away. The Winter War broke out in 1939. The committee was aware of the need for using the fund on charity was greater than on a statue.

All ideas from the committee matured and grew as time went by. The Association of the Women of Kalevala was established and funds were distributed to places in need through the association. In 1941 a company named Kalevala Koru Oy was registered.

Kalevala Koru (Jewelry) Oy is the largest jewelry manufacturer in Finland. The company designs, produces and sells high quality gold, silver and bronze jewelry. Kalevala Koru Group employs 210 people and its annual turnover was 21 million euro in 2005. The factory and administration locates in an area 10km from downtown Helsinki. The President of the company is Ms. Laura Lares. The board of Directors consists of Vice President, Financial Director Mrs. Tiina Peltonen, IT-Manager Mrs. Tuula Aitta-aho, Production Manager Mr. Mika Elamo, Logistics Manager Mrs. Arja Heikkilä, Marketing and Sales Director Mrs. Riitta Huuhtanen and Purchase Manager Mr. Markku Tapiola.

In August 2005 Kalevala Koru Oy acquired all the shares of a well-known Finnish jewelry company Lapponia Jewelry Oy. Lapponia Jewelry will continue as an incorporated company (Inc.) operated by Kalevala Koru Oy.

All jewelry is manufactured in our own factory in Helsinki, Finland. Only high quality raw materials are used in our jewelry. Finnish materials are used, whenever possible. The factory is part of our newly renovated premises in Pitäjänmäki, Helsinki. We pay close attention to the environmental regulations to ensure the air, water and the park nearby will not be polluted.
Kalevala Koru has a very strong brand name in Scandinavia, especially in Finland. In recent surveys, Kalevala Jewelry was the 11th most appreciated brand name in Finland (Markkinointi & Mainonta -magazine, 2005).

Scandinavian and Finnish jewelry

noreply@blogger.com (American Finn) — Sun, 12 Aug 2007 18:03:00 +0000

This blog is about Scandinavian and Finnish jewelry... some modern and retro, some traditional and ancient... Scandinavian design jewelry is always "clean" and simple but never boring! Designs are often inspired by pristine Nordic nature which is fiercely protected by Scandinavians. Crystal clear waters, tall pines, sweeping birches and endless snow covered hills and valleys... perfect source of inspiration for unique jewelry designs!