BAKKA Jewellery from Rogaland, Norway

Norwegian.Jewelry
Sep 7, 2018 · 3 min read

From an early age, Monica Bakka had a keen interest in jewelry. She attributes that to her grandmother, who worked at a jewelry store in Øvre Årdal. Detail oriented, she paid attention to shapes, colors, and craftsmanship, teaching Monica the pleasure of using one’s hands to create. Nevertheless, pursuing one’s dreams often requires a departure into a traditional career path. However, many people get caught up in corporate life, losing sight of their dreams altogether. But that was not the case with Monica Bakka. She demonstrates that discipline and rigor are transferable from one profession to another.

Monica Bakka at work in Western Norway

After studying English, doing an exchange at the University of North Dakota School of Law, and graduating with Master of Tax Law from the University of Oslo in 2002, she worked for the local Tax Office in Stavanger. Almost three years later in 2005, she accepted an offer at Deloitte: one of the world’s most prestigious accounting and consulting firms. Over the course of eight and half years, she climbed the ranks from Consultant to Senior Lawyer, specializing in international taxation and social security.

The Planets collection — Contemporary jewelry for the confidant woman.

As she was searching for jewelry to wear to her own wedding in 2004, she started making jewelry as a hobby, rekindling her childhood interest. Over the following years, she attended courses at Raulandsakademiet, Smykkeskolen in Oslo, Jon Rysstad at Bryne, and The Center for Jewelry design in Denmark. As she took courses, invested in tools, and learned from others, she realized that this is what she wanted to do. She started her transition into jewelry in 2012, working 80% of the time at Deloitte.

She worked part-time for a local goldsmith and sold her pieces through a few shops. Hence, working full-time as a jewelry designer started to look more realistic. In 2014, she took the leap, going all in to pursue her dream, starting her company. She chose BAKKA not only for her last name but also after the small farm in Åbødalen in Sauda (a county in Western Norway), where her ancestors trace back to the 17th century. She apprenticed at Gullsmed Kluge in 2015 and passed the Swedish Exam (practical goldsmith exam) in 2017. She hasn’t looked back since.

Handmade in her Stavanger workshop, BAKKA jewelry starts as a figurative form, evolving with different sizes and surfaces. The finished pieces are characterized by robust and clean lines, offering simultaneous feminine expression. Contrasting gold, silver, smooth, and matte finishes further accentuates the effect. BAKKA’s four collections include Planets, Sails, Bare Leaves, and Droplets. Monica Bakka also offers consultation and bespoke services as well.

Norwegian.Jewelry is a directory and marketplace, showcasing Norway’s leading artisan jewelry designers and goldsmiths. Please follow us on Instagram @Norwegian.Jewelry or Pinterest at NorwegianJewelry. It is one thing to have a website and quite another to get discovered by customers. Please contact us for our “No-Website Solutions” for jewelry designers and goldsmiths.

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A directory and marketplace featuring Norway's leading artisan jewelry designers and goldsmiths.

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