TROELS LARSEN

Today we're in Copenhagen, Denmark at Botanisk Have, a peaceful garden with wild moor and heath, rare trees, orchids and cacti. Denmark is also the birthplace to featured jewelry designer Troels Larsen.

Having spent his childhood years surrounded by a family of architects, Larsen was predestined to become one as well . . . not exactly.  

Life has a way of shifting towards unexpected trajectories and Larsen would journey down a different path.

"While walking through rich pastures of land running along the Norwegian Fjords, I stumble upon a perfectly intact dragonfly at my feet.   I gently placed it on the wall above my bed where unknowingly this "symbol" becomes morphed into who I am today.  In the Danish language, the word goldsmith is the same word for dragonfly."

In 1978, while attending a high school in Laguna Beach, California, Larsen took a class in jewelry making and gemstone cutting.  When he returned to Copenhagen one year later, he began an apprenticeship at Antvorskor Inc. under the tutelage of a third generation, master goldsmith. 

After graduating from Copenhagen’s Goldsmith Institute in 1986 a friend from Laguna Beach contacted Larsen about a job opening for a European-trained goldsmith.  Thereafter Larsen returned to California where he began a two-year stint at Zalton David Fine Jewelry. 

He then joined Jacobus Goldsmiths--a fine jewelry fixture for over three decades-- where he collaborated with its owner, Jacobus Bass.  For the last 20 years, Larsen has exhibited his unique work of 18- and 22-karat gold, silver and platinum as well as spectacular gemstones at the prestigious Festival of Arts in Laguna Beach.

My passion is designing simple, understated designs using the most colorful and rarest natural gemstones.

In 2006, he received an AGTA (American Gem Trade Association) Spectrum Award for an 18-karat yellow gold pendant with tourmaline.   His distinctive designs possess clean, geometric lines and rich color.

_________
Photo 1 (top right): Golden Beryl and Aquamarine Necklace
Photo 2 (bottom left): Amethyst and Rose Quartz Earrings
_____________________________________________
Note: Images Redirect to Alternative Items At ShopStyle Collective