Red, Reconsidered: Ruby & Carnelian Jewelry by Mikkel Brøgger
Modern heirlooms in a color that never apologizes.
There is a particular kind of red that has nothing to do with romance.
It is not the red of roses or ribbon, not the red of Valentine’s Day or theatrical sweetness. It is the red of lacquer, of vintage lipstick, of a 1930s salon, of a painted door in a quiet European street. It is the red that feels cultured, deliberate, and quietly powerful.
At BON TON goods, we have always been drawn to objects that carry this kind of intention, pieces that do not need to announce themselves to be unforgettable. In the work of Mikkel Brøgger, red becomes exactly that. Not a seasonal gesture, but a signature.
This week, we are featuring a small selection of Mikkel’s jewelry in ruby and carnelian, each piece made with the same philosophy: elegance should be felt, not performed.
A Color With History (And a Future)
Red has always belonged to the world of interiors, jewelry, and design.
In fashion history, it is the shade that signals confidence rather than seduction. In decorative arts, it appears as a punctuation mark: a lacquered tray, a deep velvet chair, a single porcelain detail that pulls the entire room into focus.
And in jewelry, red is one of the most timeless choices a person can make, because it sits outside trend. It has been worn for centuries, not as a symbol, but as a statement of personal style.
In Mikkel’s work, red becomes architectural. It is treated like a material, not a mood.
Ruby: The Classic Made Modern
Ruby is one of the most storied gemstones in the world. It carries a natural authority, a sense of permanence. It is also, in the hands of the wrong designer, easy to make overly traditional.
Mikkel’s ruby pieces avoid that entirely.
His approach is clean and sculptural, focusing on proportion, light, and the quiet satisfaction of a perfectly resolved silhouette. The result is ruby that feels modern, minimal, and incredibly wearable, even for someone who does not typically reach for color.
Ruby Studs (14k Gold)
A refined pair of ruby studs is the kind of piece that becomes part of a person’s daily uniform.
Not because it is “basic,” but because it is complete. The ruby offers depth without flash, and the simplicity of the setting allows the stone to do what it does best: hold color like a secret.
This is the jewelry equivalent of a crisp white shirt, a well-cut coat, or an antique chair with perfect lines. It never becomes dated, and it never tries too hard.
Carnelian: The Unexpected Icon
If ruby is the classic, carnelian is the connoisseur’s choice.
Carnelian is warm, saturated, earthy. It has the rich tone of burnt sienna, terracotta, and antique sealing wax. It feels simultaneously ancient and contemporary, a material that belongs to both archaeology and modern design.
In these pieces, Mikkel treats carnelian as a sculptural element. It is not decorative. It is structural.
Carnelian and Stone Earrings
These earrings are long, elegant, and striking, yet still understated. They move beautifully, and their silhouette has a quiet modernity.
They are the kind of earrings that make even a simple outfit look intentional. They read as design, not ornament.
Carnelian Bead Necklace
A carnelian necklace can easily veer into something overly bohemian or costume-adjacent. This one does not.
Here, the scale is bold but disciplined. The beads feel substantial, almost architectural, and the necklace carries that unmistakable “one-of-a-kind” presence. It looks like something discovered, not mass-produced.
It is also the kind of piece that instantly changes the mood of a room when worn. Not in a loud way, but in a way that feels like taste.
Why Red Belongs in a BON TON Wardrobe
At BON TON goods, we talk often about objects as part of daily rituals.
Jewelry is not meant to sit in a drawer waiting for a “special occasion.” It is meant to be worn, lived with, and integrated into the texture of real life. That is when it becomes meaningful.
These red pieces work beautifully in that way.
They pair naturally with black, ivory, camel, denim, navy, and crisp white
They elevate neutrals without competing with them
They photograph beautifully without feeling styled-for-the-camera
They feel equally at home with vintage, Scandinavian minimalism, and Parisian eclecticism
In other words, they are not seasonal. They are foundational.
Post-Valentine’s: The Best Time to Wear Red
There is something chic about wearing red after Valentine’s Day.
It strips the color of cliché. It turns it into something more personal. It becomes less about messaging and more about taste.
The day after Valentine’s is when red becomes what it always should have been: a choice, not a theme.
Mikkel Brøgger: Jewelry as Sculpture
Mikkel’s jewelry is defined by a rare balance: refinement with presence.
His work is handmade, deeply considered, and rooted in a long relationship with craft. Each piece feels like it was designed by someone who understands not only jewelry, but interiors, proportion, and the way objects live in a space.
That is why these pieces work so beautifully with BON TON goods.
They are not accessories. They are objects.
They carry the same sensibility as a hand-thrown ceramic bowl, a well-aged antique, or a candle lit at exactly the right hour. They are made for people who understand that luxury is not about excess, it is about intention.
A Small Collection, Made to Be Collected
This selection of ruby and carnelian pieces is limited, and in several cases, one-of-a-kind.
That is part of their appeal.
In a world where so much is endlessly reproduced, these pieces feel like something you can only find in one place, at one moment in time. They are not designed for the algorithm. They are designed for the person who wears them.
Discover Mikkel Brøgger Jewelry at BON TON goods
You can explore the full collection of Mikkel Brøgger Jewelry online, or visit us in Malmö to experience the pieces in person.
Jewelry has a physical presence. It deserves to be seen in natural light, held in the hand, and tried on without rush.
And if you have questions before purchasing, we are always happy to advise.
Shop Mikkel Brøgger Jewelry