Planetoid Valleys and Star Wars

In the spring of 1976, Björn Weckström received an interesting phone call. On the other end of the line was George Lucas' secretary. It turned out that Lucas needed flashy silver jewelry for his new film in production, the title of which was not revealed during the call. Lucas specifically wanted jewelry designed by Björn Weckström - apparently the world conquest of Space Silver themed jewelry created by Weckström at the time had paid off, and the original design language that deviated from the mass had found a friend. According to the secretary, the jewelry had to be ready in six weeks for the scene to be filmed. So there was no time to waste.

At that time, George Lucas was not yet a well-known name in Finland, and Weckström did not know him either. But because the project seemed interesting to Weckström, he responded affirmatively to the assignment and said that the schedule was possible. Space and science fiction had been present as themes in his work before, so designing jewelry for a space adventure film was already interesting.

Weckström began sketching a necklace suitable for the film, but the work was interrupted when Lucas' secretary contacted him again. The shooting order of the scenes had to be changed, and the jewelry would be needed in a week. The unexpected tightening of the schedule meant that the planning work that had already started could no longer be completed - a week was too short a time. Weckström had to tell the secretary that the situation was impossible. A quick solution had to be found to find suitable jewelry.

Weckström began sketching a necklace suitable for the film, but the work was interrupted when Lucas' secretary contacted him again. The filming of the scenes had to be changed, and the jewelry would be needed in a week. The unexpected tightening of the schedule meant that the planning work that had already started could not be completed - a week was too short a time. Weckström told the secretary that the situation was impossible. A quick solution had to be found to find suitable jewelry.

After a moment of reflection, the conversation moved to the already existing jewelry collection. Since the film was shot at Elstree studios near London, the secretary asked Weckström if the jewelry he designed was available in London. A dealer was found on Bond Street, whose contact information Weckström gave to the secretary. This thanked for the information and promised that the production team would visit the available collection in the London store. After some time, Weckstöm received a Telex message saying that the production team had found just the right jewelry for the scene in London. Lucas was said to have praised the jewelry as fantastic. Weckström was satisfied that the project had a happy ending, although he still did not know in which film the jewelry would be included. After this message, there were no further contacts from the direction of the production team.

The Star Wars movie was supposed to premiere already at Christmas of the same year, but due to production reasons, the release of the movie was moved to the summer of the following year. The film did not have its premiere in Finland until December 16, 1977. One of Björn Weckström's friends had also been watching the first screenings of the film, and had immediately recognized Weckström's jewelry in the final scene of the film.

In the famous final scene Planetoid Valleys and Darina's bracelet were seen on Carrie Fisher playing Princess Leia as she presented medals of valor to Luke Skywalker (Mark Hamill) and Han Solo (Harrison Ford). Soon, Weckström himself also went to see the film after receiving information from a friend who had praised the role given to jewelry. The venue was the Helsinki cinema Maxim at Kluuvikatu 1. Seeing your own jewelry on the big screen in a big international movie was quite an experience. When designing the Space Silver series launched in 1969, Weckström could never have imagined what kind of cult phenomenon Planetoid Valleys and Darina's bracelet would become.

The designer was troubled by the interruption of the design work started for the film. After seeing the film, Weckström returned to his original drawings and developed his idea further.

Based on the original idea, a design for the Poema necklace was later completed, which was produced in limited batches in the 90s.

The interruption of the design work started for the film bothered the designer a little afterwards. After seeing the film, Weckström went back to his original drawings and developed his idea further whenever other projects allowed. Based on the original idea, a design for the Poema necklace was later completed, which was then produced in limited batches in the 90s.

Like Star Wars, Planetoid Valleys is also a classic that new and new generations always fall in love with. In the skilled hands of our experienced goldsmiths, at our own factory in Helsinki, Finland new Planetoid Valleys necklaces are produced every week to conquer hearts around the world. Story continues.