Design snobs know that Scandinavian firms have long been considered the pinnacle of classic, minimalist design—and that goes double for jewelry. Take the Swedish heritage brand Engelbert, for example. Founded in 1920 when patriarch Heribert Engelbert opened his studio in Stockholm, the brand is best known, especially in the U.S., for its 10-year-old Legacy Knot collection of rings, “all with different looks and attitude” and its Drop Link collection of stackable drop shaped earrings, available “in different sizes mixing plain gold with diamond pave,” says CEO Johanna Pietsch.
Less well-known, however, is the role Engelbert played in an artistic period called the “Swedish Grace,” beginning in the mid-1920s. “It ran parallel to the better-known Art Deco movement but represents an important chapter in modern design history with a shift towards geometric stylization and elements of line and form,” Pietsch tells BE. “The second generation of Engelbert was a part of this period using geometric language with rock crystals. Inspired by our history, we use the same stock of rock crystals from the 1940s in some pieces we create today—for example the Swedish Grace earrings.”
This year, Engelbert, which remains family-owned (fun fact: fourth generation owner Oscar Engelbert is married to style icon Giovanna Engelbert), is marking a decade of Legacy Knot with a focus on statement pieces, including a gold necklace and bangle created both in plain gold and diamond pavé. “We believe these pieces add a significant value to this much-loved collection,” Pietsch says. “The necklace carries over 34 carats of diamonds and the bangle 17 carats of G/VS brilliant cut diamonds.” At BE, we simply can’t get enough of Engelbert’s luxe take on Scandinavian minimalism—talk about “Swedish Grace”!
