History

Haldor Fors was born in 1916 and raised in the working-class housing of Östersund, the son of Emil Fors, a locomotive engineer and blacksmith at the local train yard. As one of eight siblings, Haldor’s early life was shaped by the values of hard work and perseverance. In 1932, at the age of 16, he began an apprenticeship at the renowned jeweler Olsson & Co in Östersund considered a late start, as most apprentices began around the age of 11 or 12. However, with the outbreak of the Second World War in 1939, Haldor was called to serve at the Swedish-Finnish border, putting his goldsmithing career temporarily on hold.

After being released from military service in 1942 due to health concerns, Haldor was able to resume his career at the age of 26. With a recommendation letter from Olsson & Co in Östersund, he moved to Sweden’s capital, Stockholm, where he began working as a goldsmith at Juvelfabriken in 1943 and later at Gerdt Sandkvist. This opportunity marked the start of a new chapter in his life, reigniting his passion for jewelry making and craftsmanship.

In 1948, Haldor made a significant change in his life by moving to the United States to explore opportunities in the jewelry sector. He was quickly offered double the salary he had in Stockholm to work as a jewelry designer. Initially, he worked in Chicago but soon found himself longing for the beauty of Swedish women and the charm of his homeland. Ultimately, Haldor decided to return home.

Haldor started his own journey as an independent goldsmith and quickly found success in Sweden. Shortly after returning to Stockholm, he met the love of his life, a flower girl named Martha. In 1952, they married, and Haldor took her to Paris for their honeymoon, the city he considered the most romantic in the world. Over the years, his love for Martha grew stronger, as did his fondness for Paris. The couple returned many times, and those visits became a lasting source of inspiration for our collection, Riveted Love.

Anders Fors was born in 1958 and developed an interest in his father's work by the age of nine. He began creating silver necklaces and bracelets, which he sold at school. At nineteen, he chose to dedicate himself fully to his father's craft. In 1977 he founded Anders Fors Guldateljé and began working alongside Haldor as an apprentice, learning the skills and knowledge of the trade. Their collaboration gave Anders invaluable experience and allowed him to continue the legacy of craftsmanship that his father had established.

Haldor and Anders worked together in the late 70s and 80s, catering to their clients' wishes with a shared passion for craftsmanship. During this time, Anders was still learning the craft from his father, refining his skills and expanding his knowledge. It was common for both Haldor and Anders to visit clients' homes, showcase collections, and discuss design ideas using pen and paper. As Haldor neared retirement, he gradually referred more of his clients to Anders, helping him build his own company while passing on the expertise and legacy of their craft.

With the passing of one generation, the next takes its place. Haldor passed away in 1999, having had the pleasure of meeting Anders' first-born, Jenny Fors Gentele. Haldor lived through some of the most exciting changes of the 1900s—born in the small Swedish town of Östersund, moving to the capital Stockholm alone in his 20s, and traveling across the Atlantic and the world. While everything around him changed, his craft remained largely untouched for decades, until the introduction of jewelry design software. Just like Anders, Jenny Fors Gentele was introduced to the family craft at an early age, continuing the legacy.

Jenny Fors Gentele began her career much like her father, starting as an apprentice. In 2002, she began working alongside Anders Fors to learn the craft. At the age of 19, she enrolled in a three-year goldsmithing program and earned her degree in the summer of 2005. That same year, she founded her own company, Jewellery by Jenny. To further develop her skills, Jenny applied to one of Europe’s oldest jewelry houses, W.A. Bolin, established in 1791. Her dedication and talent led her to become head jeweler and auction appraiser by 2011, at just 25 years old.

Anders Fors's only son David Fors born in 2004, grew up immersed in the craft, just like his sister. Anders introduced David to goldsmithing at an early age, and by the age of six, David was imagining designs and pitching them to his father. At 11, he began practical lessons and slowly started his apprenticeship under Anders, following the same path as his sister Jenny. By 14, David was working part-time as a goldsmith for his father. David was assisting with projects and even completing entire client orders from start to finish, all while continuing his school studies.

David decided to take a slightly different path, developing a deep passion for watches. At just 16 years old, he launched his own company Klocksalongen. During this time, he bought and sold vintage Rolex and Cartier watches, building his expertise in timepieces. Despite this new venture, he continued his journey as a goldsmith, balancing his dual passions for watches and jewelry craftsmanship.

Over time, David felt a growing desire to create something more personal to leave his own mark through design. David’s first jewelry collection, Riveted Love, began in 2020, inspired by his fascination with the Eiffel Tower’s structure and his grandfather Haldor Fors’s deep love for Paris. After several prototypes, the final design was completed in 2022.

The Vivid collection followed in 2022, sparked by a visit to Cap d’Antibes. Inspired by the reflections of the blue sea and the Riviera’s sweeping coastline, its first prototype was completed in 2023.

Both collections are crafted like miniature puzzles, drawing on the precision and delicacy of watchmaking in both construction and detail.