About Reeslev
Reeslev History anno 1954 to 2009
The Reeslev Design history starts in 1954 when Esben Reeslev and his wife Grete opened the first little shop in Copenhagen, the adress was Vester Farimagsgade “under the curve” but the clientel there was not harmonious with the high quality of the jewlery. 15years later in 1969 they moved the shop to the at that time exclusive walking zone called Strøget, Nygade 6, Copenhagen K. Here the design was really noticed, and soon Reeslev became well known in Denmark for beautiful designs and high quality craftsmanship.
Again in 1986 the shop at Nygade 6 was expanded to double the size. The success grew and especially in the wedding ring department, Reeslev design became a legend and the preferred place of Danish couples to have their rings for eternity designed. As a result the same year a son of Reeslev joined the company heading up the add campaigns and the start of a Reeslev wholesale division. This however, did not go as planed and 2 years later the son withdrew from the company.
5 years later after realising that none of the children wanted to continue the family tradition and work the hours that their parents did, Esben and his wife offered the company Margit Hansen Guld & Sølv Roskilde A/S to buy the Brand and it´s designs. Esben Reeslev felt that Torben Hansen the son of Margit Hansen who also was a talented designer could keep his high quality demands along with his timeless design alive.
In June 1998 a deal was made. Reeslev Design became a part of the Margit Hansen conglomerate. The name was changed to Reeslev Copenhagen in order to signal that the shop sold other products than just Reeslev design, and the following introduction of watches was made with instant success.
Due to trouble in the conglomerate Reeslev had to close the doors in April 2003 but Torben Hansen and his fiancé Stella were able to save the Reeslev name and keep it in family hands. In September 2003 the doors were opened again in the old shop, but due to sudden rent increases – in breech of contract – Stella & Torben decided to move the shop to a more exclusive location on the other end of Strøget.
The street chosen was Grønnegade no. 36, and the shop was opened in October 2003. Stella & Torben soon realized that this was the choice that should have been made from the beginning. After only a year in Grønnegade, clients from all over the world started coming to have their rings made and in 2006 the shop was more successful than ever.