The inspiration for the GRACE necklace was the christening piece that GULDVIVA was commissioned to create as a gift for the ship’s (M/S Viking Grace) godmother.

Maria Karlström, head goldsmith at GULDVIVA, designed and crafted the christening piece for M/S Viking Grace. These are her thoughts on the piece and the creative process:

“The Åland archipelago landscape is an important source of inspiration when I create and design for Guldviva. When you see the finished jewellery, the connection to the Åland nature is often obvious, but the road there is not always straight. And that’s also the case with the christening piece.

My starting point was to include what a modern cruise ship consists of: the feeling of a whole world. The eleven decks on M/S Viking Grace were therefore given space as separate components in the piece. They represent the different rhythms on board – including stillness.

The natural continuation of my thoughts was the sea. As islanders, we live with the sea. Ships that arrive, turn and leave again are a natural part of life. Almost floating, timeless and safe. I have reflected that in the piece by contrasting the shape of the waves with the decks. They are then arranged together in a stricter, square form to give the piece a clean, stylish design.

The shape of the waves and the decks is also arranged to leave room for interpretation. Those who look closely can therefore see other shapes hidden in the piece…”

GLORY is a piece of jewelry in the classic goldsmith tradition, with a design that radiates both timelessness and a maritime connection, while giving the traditional an extra little golden touch.

The frame of the piece is the maritime rope that is so synonymous with seafaring. Twisted into a half RÅBANDSKNOP (Reef Knot), it naturally embraces the stormy sea.

In the sea of the piece dwell wild waves crowned by a set brilliant whose pinpoint light resembles the lighthouse that many seafarers have longed to glimpse between the wave crests on the horizon, finally realizing that they are soon in a safe harbor.