Jens Hansen Contemporary Gold and Silversmith

Born from one man’s passion and individuality, Jens Hansen Contemporary Gold & Silversmith is recognised the world over for classically designed jewellery with true spirit and timeless style.

Jens Hansen himself is renowned as one of the founders of New Zealand contemporary jewellery. In the 1960’s, Jens gained extensive training and experience in his birth country, Denmark, but he returned to New Zealand and set up his famous Nelson workshop; a leading hub of experimentation and brilliance, drawing aspiring gold and silversmiths from around the world. Jens’ legacy continues through the spirit of the handcrafted jewellery still being lovingly made in his Selwyn Place workshop in Nelson.

Based on the workshop’s quality ring making reputation, Jens was the ringmaker of choice to design the Lord of the Rings One Ring. Designing and making the movie rings was a major undertaking, with different sizes being made for the filming - from Hobbit-size to the 20-centimetre-diameter ring that spins through the air at the beginning of the films. The master prototype can still be viewed at the Nelson store.

Today, Jens Hansen Contemporary Gold & Silversmith is regarded as one of this country’s leading bespoke jewellers, with works celebrated in the Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa’s permanent collection, and currently in an exhibition at the New Dowse in Lower Hutt.

320 Trafalgar Square
Nelson

Region: Nelson