Mona Jensen, founder of Tom Wood

10/01/25

Une femme aux cheveux bruns avec une frange, vêtue d’une chemise noire, se tient debout dans un bureau lumineux. Elle tient une tasse blanche dans une main et semble parler. Derrière elle, un grand panneau recouvert de photos et d’images d’inspiration est accroché au mur. À droite, on aperçoit une banquette avec des coussins gris clair et une grande fenêtre donnant sur une vue urbaine.

“I really do not care about gender, I only care about the design, the overall shape and quality."
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Mona Jensen

Minimal lines, strong presence. The signet ring, reimagined with precision and contemporary edge.

Scandinavian design, recycled materials, raw aesthetics. Tom Wood is back in the WHITEbIRD curation. A refined, unisex and consciously crafted kind of luxury, built to last.

Behind the brand is Mona Jensen, a discreet visionary who blurs the lines between ethics and craftsmanship, and dreams of jewellery that’s honest, close to the body, and rooted in the real.

1.You come from branding and digital. What led you to jewellery?

I have always been dragged between two equally strong parts of me; the creative and the analytical. After over 15 years in the brand and marketing industry with the final 6 years running my own agency, I was triggered to test my skills on more than strategy frameworks and consulting others. After a year in the planning I decided to quit my job in 2013 and invested all time and energy into founding Tom Wood.

Silver chain necklace with a square black pendant, set in a silver frame, against a plain white background.

Signet ring in silver set with a polished rectangular tiger’s eye stone

2. Why choose a masculine name for such a personal brand?

Tom Wood is my masculine part, my alter ego. It’s also someone to hide behind when I do not want to be in the centre, and that is often the case.

3. Signet rings were your starting point. What does this piece mean to you?

The first piece of jewellery I became fond of was my wedding ring from 2010. I didn't want a classic band ring and my husband found two vintage signet rings and asked me if they could be nice for us to pair up with. The rings were in silver and looked bold and androgynous, different from all jewellery out in the market. The dimensions and weight appealed to me. We engraved the tabletop with our wedding date as a secret code, and I felt we were members of some kind of "gang" wearing statement rings that were much more visible than a traditional wedding band.

Two shiny, gold hoop earrings with a smooth, rounded design on a plain white background.

Silver chain bracelet with a rectangular clasp, displayed on a plain white background.

4. How does Scandinavian aesthetics shape your daily work?

Norway is celebrated for its natural landscapes, which has influenced me in many ways.

Growing up on a small island by the sea nestled along the cliffy western coast of Norway, nature has always surrounded me. I have often been inspired by the power and impact of nature through time, a concept which is reflected in not only my lifestyle, but also many Tom Wood collections.

5. All your pieces are unisex. Why was that so important from the start, and how does it shape your design process?

I used to be more of a "watch person" and liked to wear big watches before starting on the Tom Wood journey.

Back then the jewellery offerings were more limited and focused on feminine designs.

I figured out there was a missing spot in the market for jewellery made for people like myself, people that like bolder and cleaner looking designs.

I really do not care about gender, I only care about the design, the overall shape and quality.

Tom Wood black bead choker necklace worn with a black top, minimalist and timeless style.

Polished silver signet ring by Tom Wood, minimalist design with a smooth mirror finish.

6. Can you tell us more about Tom Wood’s ethical commitments?

In creating jewellery that we love, it’s equally as important that we feel good about where it comes from and how it's made. Social and environmental responsibility go hand in hand. At Tom Wood we are committed to ensuring fair, safe, and healthy working conditions for our team and supply chain partners through several professional third party authorisations and certifications. We share full openness of our supply chain and this June we launched our very first 100% traceable collection with gemstones included, an important milestone. Achieving full traceability is working against all odds in a quite conservative industry rooted in traditional networking that does not necessarily need a spotlight.

7. Brutalism, architecture, nature... What kind of images feed your imagination?

My future dream home, overlooking the ocean, constantly feeds my brain with fuel to work harder and push further.

8. Japan plays a big role in your world. You even opened a store there. What draws you to this culture?

I became instantly fascinated by Japanese culture and people after my first visit to Tokyo 10 years back. Their appreciation of unique craftsmanship through generations ,and their focus on high quality in everything resonates with my work and philosophy.

9. Your showroom in Oslo, your garden, museums... How does your everyday life influence your work? Do you have any creative rituals?

My everyday life is not that creative, it's rather hectic and covers almost all parts of our business at some point. At best it gives me a very realistic approach to my creations and I like that. I am more of a functionalist when it comes to design and creativity, and I like to understand the numbers.

10. What’s inspiring you right now?

A brief moment in time can inspire as much as a specific impression of art or architecture. My most creative moments come spontaneously and often out of nowhere. They tend to be connected to something I experience, see or discover by being close to nature and the real world.