The Aatlo family continues the Gordon Aatlo vision in 2013. Gordon Aatlo came from a rich heritage. His uncle was the jeweler to the King of Norway in the 19th Century and his father was an accomplished bench jeweler. It was no surprise, then, that this rich art form would be his passion that would guide him through more than six decades. Aatlo was a visionary. He perfectly balanced jewellery as an art form and as adornment, finding just the right design for each beautiful gemstone, while creating a magical blend of light, texture, and detail.
He was one of the first jewelry artists to design around one-of-a-kind colored stones created by gemstone carvers. Using these gems with their clean architectural lines, he crafted pieces in high carat gold and platinum. Aatlo served as an example to other jewelers on how to bridge the gap between galleries and fine jewellery shops. When he passed away in April 2012, the world lost a master of the craft, but the beauty of his pieces continues to live on for those who wear them, and for those who recognize his work and his place as an award-winning master jeweler.
Today, his legacy is being carried on by his family. His sons Kelly Allen, who had been Gordon’s assistant for more than 30 years, and Thore Aalto, who apprenticed with Gordon and then worked with other jewellery houses, are taking over the design end of the brand. His daughter, Christine Thoresen, is handling the business and operations end. The family will continue to work in Gordon’s distinguishable signature style, while taking into account today’s trends, designs, and attitude of today’s customers. The current collection includes some of Gordon’s last works with the uniquely carved and colorful gemstones that Gordon Aatlo became famous for.
Christine also serves as a muse for the collection, and will work closely with Kelly and Thore to translate Gordon’s vision and talent into collections for today’s discerning clientele.
