The story of Ole Lynggaard begins with a love story. A young goldsmith, traveling the world, meets a woman in Paris, who later becomes his wife and forever muse; thus, the foundation is laid for what would become one of the most prestigious Danish jewelers and Purveyor to the Royal Danish Court, Ole Lynggaard Copenhagen.
Ole Lynggaard was always destined for something creative. Born in 1936, the son of jewelry store owners, he grew up surrounded by fine jewelry and craftsmanship. As a child, he was drawn to sculpting and drawing, inspired by nature, art, and architecture. It became clear early on that he would work with his hands. In 1957, Ole answered his calling and embarked on an apprenticeship learning how to be a goldsmith. A year after he completed his work, earning medals for design and diligence while doing so, he took off to see the world. As he spent time in places like Japan, Cairo, Thailand, and the Philippines, he was amassing ideas and absorbing atmospheres that would later contribute to his designs. He studied metalwork in Germany, took in the ateliers of Paris, explored workshops from the East Coast to the Golden Gate, and gathered inspiration from India, Tehran, China, and everywhere in between. During his travels to Asia, he was drawn again and again to the elephant. He began working on ideas of how to incorporate its understated grace and quiet strength into his work. Since then, the elephant has become an iconic token of the brand.
After five years of seeing as much of the world as he could, Ole returned home to Denmark. The year was 1963, and his muse and lifelong partner Karin, was waiting for him. Together, they founded Ole Lynggaard Copenhagen: a combined workshop and office in Hellerup. Still headquartered there to this day, the company is now overseen by second and third generations, including Ole’s daughter Charlotte Lynggaard, as Designer and Creative Director, and his son, Soren, who is CEO. A handful of other family members serve in design, retail, and leadership roles as Ole Lynggaard continues to build upon the love story where everything started.
After they were established, it didn’t take long for the brand to become synonymous with Danish fine jewelry. Since 2008, they have been purveyor to the Danish court, and Mary, Queen of Denmark, is often seen wearing their pieces specially crafted for her. Defined by their timeless aesthetic and playful detail, it is no wonder they are cherished and shown off by Her Royal Highness. Every piece at Ole Lynggaard is handcrafted from 18k gold or sterling silver and feature only the rarest and highest quality diamonds and gemstones. Currently, there are about 40 goldsmiths who work in-house to ensure the Ole Lynggaard legacy of precision, exquisite artistry, and unparalleled detail lives on in every design. Charlotte, Ole’s daughter and the creative genius behind many of the current pieces, who inherited her father’s eye for exceptional arrangement, says she is happiest when crafting pieces that marry contemporary with the classic, the wild with the stylish, or the simplicity with daring.
Explore our selection of Ole Lynggaard pieces at Shreve & Co. Visit us in Palo Alto today!