Papaja

The goldsmith of the month, July 2025 – Anneli Aaltonen goldsmith and chief designer at Papaja. Papaja is a jewelry company located in Helsinki. They specialize in the design and manufacture of custom-made, unique engagement and wedding rings. Anneli has over twenty years of experience creating jewelry. We had the opportunity to ask her some questions.

What piece of jewelry are you most proud of?

– I primarily design and craft bespoke jewelry, always taking great care to listen to my customers’ wishes and thoughts. It is important to me that the final piece not only meets but surpasses their expectations. However, my proudest creations are those that carry a deeper, hidden meaning – where I have been able to weave sentiment and symbolism into the design. One such example is the white golden memory ring ”Echos”, which tells the story of a mother and her three daughters. In the middle is a grey star sapphire which symbolizes the mother and three diamonds around it symbolize the daughters.

What is your favorite part of the creative process?

– My favorite moment in the design process is when, after a brief or extended conversation with my customer, inspiration strikes. In that instant, a clear vision forms in my mind, allowing me to see exactly what kind of jewelry I will propose and ultimately create.

What is your favorite tool to use?

– My most indispensable tool is my caliper, which plays a crucial role in every step of my daily work. Since I work with unique gemstones, precise measurement of their dimensions is essential – both during the design phase and the final crafting of the piece. Beyond its functionality, I appreciate how well it feels in my hand – compact, practical, and perfectly suited to my work. In Finnish, it even has a cute nickname: tönäri.

Read more about the goldsmith of the month July – Papaja here.