Why It Took Me Four Years to Buy This Georg Jensen Necklace

I was introduced to Georg Jensen – a world-famous Danish silversmith – at an early age. My mother, who is Danish, always dreamt of owning the famous Vivianna bangle watch. And apparently, I was destined to own this Georg Jensen necklace.

When I visited Denmark as a teenager, I fell in love with some of his vintage pieces. My tastes are dictated by a love of feminine and ornate design, as opposed to modern, clean lines that otherwise have dominated Georg Jensen’s portfolio.

Nevertheless, my admiration for certain Georg Jensen pieces runs deep. And once I get it into my head that I have to own something, I usually find a way to make it happen.

I moved with my family to Brazil in 2015, but we returned to Denmark that same year to spend Christmas with family. I had lost my luggage on the way, so I was shopping frantically for a trip we were leaving on right after Christmas Eve dinner. Being close by, I couldn’t resist a quick walk through the Georg Jensen flagship store in downtown Copenhagen.

The Flagship Store in Copenhagen

After having fought my way through last-minute holiday shoppers, this was like an oasis. Not only were there fewer customers in the store, but it is like walking through a museum. Behind numerous glass cases is a collection of the classic flatware, table décor and jewelry exquisitely displayed.

As I walked slowly through the jewelry section, several fascinating pieces caught my eye. The design was a mix of modern, art deco, and vintage – all so unusual that I could hardly tell what they were. The collection included earrings, a bangle and this fantastic neck ring. But the most intriguing part was that I had no idea how the neck ring was meant to be worn.

I was simply too worn out to ask to try it on in my holiday-shopping-induced frazzled state. But somehow, I could see that a piece like this would BE your outfit, not just complete your outfit. Anything that unusual, I admire as a work of art, and this was exactly why I fell in love with it.

Being inside this Georg Jensen store always makes me feel at home. I have bought very few things there, but the atmosphere is so meaningful to me and, on this trip, it felt like a piece of home that I wanted to reconnect with, even if with briefly.

Not surprisingly, the price was a lot more than I had ever spent on a piece of jewelry, let alone a silver neck ring, so I moved on. But a few days later, on a plane far away from Denmark, I still couldn’t get it out of my head. So I researched the piece, and was intrigued by Georg Jensen’s ambition behind this new initiative:

The Georg Jensen Archive Collection

Even after this fascinating background story, I again decided to let it go. Well, almost … Four years later, as I started this blog and began reflecting on what pieces mean to me and why I buy and collect them, the thought of this necklace immediately entered my mind and filled me with regret.

The Georg Jensen Archive collection is a selection of the designer’s jewelry from the 1950s, 1960s and 1970s. They are not exact replicas, but a nod to past pieces that include both contemporary and nostalgic design elements.

Not only did I love the necklace for all of the reasons I have mentioned, but I loved it as a reminder of that first visit back to Denmark after moving away. It reminded me of how some things truly are timeless. And it reminded me of one of the reasons why I love living in Denmark. The simplicity that makes things so beautiful and the roundabout way some things come together and end up making perfect sense.

Another Strange Coincidence with the Georg Jensen Necklace

In another unexpected turn of events, launching Comfortable Wardrobe brought me closer to someone I have known for more than 25 years: Helle. She is the mother of a family for whom I was an au pair when I was 18, and her daughter, Josephine, whom I had taken care of as a toddler. 

Helle, had also decided to start a blog, Plant & Spis – mad med omtanke. For six month, we met weekly to get our blogs off the ground and keep each other going. We launched at a very intimate party, consisting of my mom, Helle and Josephine. And as circumstance would have it, I found out that Josephine was working for Georg Jensen.

Learning that got me so excited that one of my first questions to her was whether they still had that unusual necklace that had been on my mind for the past four years. She was not sure, but said she would be happy to look into it.

Days later I sent her a picture of it, and after doing some legwork, she found they had one left!! I knew this was meant to be – at least this time I had to try it on.

Involving Ottilia

To make it all the more meaningful, I brought my daughter with me to the store. She has become my sounding board, even at six years old. And she has started to have opinions about everything I wear, which I love!

So we hopped on our bikes (yes, this is truly how we get around in Copenhagen), and away we went. Before I even put this fantastic neck ring on, I could see that Ottilia was as mesmerized as I was. I wasn’t leaving the piece behind this time, sensing that this was the point of it all. I wanted to purchase a piece that my daughter will remember buying with me and one that she will get to enjoy and wear herself one day. A true heirloom.

Because of my heritage, pieces like this are particularly timeless to me, and will always evoke true appreciation and love of Danish design.

Have a look at the full Georg Jensen jewelry collection available here.