Trollbeads History

The story about the original and unique Trollbeads all started in Denmark in 1976. The first bead, which later gave name to the Trollbeads collection, was a small bead decorated with no less than 6 faces. It was designed by Søren Silversmith and sold from his father Svend's jewelry shop in central Copenhagen. The beads were created at a time where it was fashionable to have a silver bead hanging on a leather thong around the neck. But instead of letting the bead hang in an eyelet, Søren wanted to let the leather cord go through the bead. Later on, Søren's sister, Lise, began to put the beads on silver bracelets, one on each bracelet.

Lise opened another jewelry store and one day a customer asked to have an extra bead put on her bracelet. The storekeeper was surprised but followed the customer's wish. From then on, the adventure and Trollbeads movement started. In cooperation with the customers and according to their wishes, the collection grew. This was the invention and the beginning of an original jewelry concept that today is enjoyed worldwide.

 

The inventor of Trollbeads - Søren Silversmith

This first Trollbead features 6 troll faces. Roll it and all 6 faces will show.

 

To this day, members of the creative Nielsen/Aagaard family participate in the actual sculpture of the beads, as well as the manufacturing. Until the year 2000 every design came from the family. To increase the diversity of the collection, 10 famous Danish jewelry designers were invited to make their signature Trollbead in the collection, and many of the designers still add beads to the collection every year.

As the beads became more and more popular the collection slowly grew and diversified. Gold and pearl beads were introduced and new locks were designed making it possible to add or remove beads and experiment with different combinations.

In 2002 the first glass beads entered the Trollbeads collection and since then the demand has grown exponentially. Today you can find Trollbeads in more than 50 countries. The family continues to design new beads, and Trollbeads has now grown to include over 50 internationally renowned designers and over 600 different beads - each with their unique design and story.