The Goldsmith’s Guide

Goldsmith Kristina Johansson offers guidance

When two people decide to say ‘I do’ to one another and embark on their shared journey through life, choosing their wedding rings is one of the most significant decisions they’ll make. The ring is one of our strongest symbols of love and fidelity, so choose it with care! It’s not easy to find the right one amongst the wide range on offer, and a good tip is to speak directly to someone who understands design, quality and craftsmanship.

PHOTOS: WEDDINGS BY MALIN

Who is Kristina Johansson of KJ Design?

– I’m a jewellery-loving woman who never tires of creating and designing jewellery for bridal couples and customers who wish to have pieces redesigned or want to invest in a brand-new piece. I see it as a privilege to design pieces that reflect a client’s personality, and I still enjoy my work, surrounded by all the beautiful gemstones, diamonds and lovely clients. There were no goldsmiths in my family; I didn’t follow in anyone’s footsteps, but I’ve always been interested in art and fine jewellery. So becoming a goldsmith was my greatest wish, even though my dad didn’t think it was a good idea. But look – it all worked out absolutely brilliantly! I’ve now been a qualified goldsmith for just over 40 years, but there’s always something new to learn – it never gets boring. 

Which metal or material should you choose for your ring?

– For your wedding rings, I think you should choose red gold, white gold or platinum. These are strong and durable metals that can hold beautiful and precious gemstones. It’s also an advantage if you ever get tired of them and want to change them – they’re easy to melt down and rework.

Should you go for a ring that suits your everyday life, or go all out on bling?

– If you love bling, go for bling! I know customers who thought practically but then deeply regretted it after a while. If anything happens to your bling ring, I’m the goldsmith and I’ll sort it out!

How do you know your ring size?

– Always go to the goldsmith you want to have the ring made by; they always know best how to approach the sizing. 

Should you match your wedding and engagement rings?

– I think the best and most stylish option is to match the wedding and engagement rings. It’s quite common these days to have a slightly more elaborate engagement ring and then a slightly smaller wedding ring that complements it. 

Tell us a bit about diamonds – what’s the difference between a lab-grown diamond and a natural diamond?

A natural diamond is created through a geological process in nature. It is carbon that has been compressed under extremely high pressure and at very high temperatures over a long period of time. The youngest natural diamonds we have are nearly a billion years old. Unlike synthetic diamonds, they are rare, retain their resale value and can be insured. This is reason enough not to fall into the ‘lab-grown’ trap. These are usually marketed using greenwashing arguments, such as being ethically sound and environmentally friendly. A lab-grown diamond has no resale value. 

How do you assess or ensure the quality of a ring?

– If you want to check for yourself whether a ring is of good quality, you can look at the hallmarks. It should bear the company’s initials, e.g. KJD – town – GR – 18K – year; this way, you know the ring is handmade and of good quality. 

What is a GR hallmark?

– The GR hallmark stands for ‘handmade’ and indicates that the ring has been crafted by a goldsmith who is a member of the Swedish National Association of Master Goldsmiths. A GR-hallmarked ring must not be cast; it must be handmade. This is a strict rule.

Why should you choose a goldsmith from the Swedish National Association of Master Goldsmiths?

– All members are selected and vetted, and must have two sponsors who vouch for them as a skilled goldsmith with a solid educational background. This provides customers with peace of mind when choosing a GR member.

What do you think is the most important thing to bear in mind when choosing rings?

– Bear in mind that your eyes will grow tired of it; many people choose what everyone else has, but over time they get fed up with it. Set aside a good budget for your ring; think about what’s important to you – is it the celebration with all your friends, or is it that wonderful feeling you get when you wake up the morning after the wedding, realising that you not only love your life partner but also your carefully chosen rings?

Any other tips for choosing wedding rings?

– Listen to and trust your jeweller; most of us have years of experience and know a great deal about rings.

Website

www.kjdesign.nu

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