Vintage 1971 Lapponia Planetoid Valleys Sterling Silver Necklace by Björn Weckström

The Planetoid Valleys necklace was designed in 1969 by Björn Weckström for the Finnish jewellery house Lapponia. The design was part of his innovative Space Silver collection and became world-famous when Carrie Fisher wore the necklace as Princess Leia during the final scene of Star Wars: A New Hope in 1977.

The necklace consists of wide silver panels with deep folds and sloping surfaces. Each piece represents an alien landscape, with valleys and raised edges that catch the light in a different way each time. The panels are connected to one another individually, so that despite its substantial form, the necklace sits beautifully around the neck. The hook clasp is fully integrated into the design.

This piece was assayed in 1971, barely two years after the model was released and six years before it appeared in Star Wars. The early date is confirmed by the Finnish date stamp S7, the then-standard fineness stamp 925H, and the initials BW of Björn Weckström. It is precisely this early provenance that makes this necklace interesting given the design's long production history.

The necklace measures approximately 45 centimetres and therefore sits slightly looser than several shorter vintage versions. Around the neck, it forms a wide, striking collar in which the individual panels remain clearly visible.

The original finish of Planetoid Valleys was finely matte and slightly textured. On this necklace, the wide and raised surfaces are smoother and shinier, indicating that the silver was likely polished in the past. The characteristic texture is still partially visible in the deeper sections. The sharp folds, edges and bold form of the panels have also been well preserved.

Due to its brighter finish, this necklace reflects more light than an untouched matte piece. This gives it a more striking and almost mirror-like effect around the neck. The finish is no longer entirely original, and this was deliberately taken into account when pricing.

An interesting choice for anyone who genuinely wants to wear an early, fully assayed Planetoid Valleys from 1971 and places less importance on a completely untouched collector's condition.

Details

Maker: Lapponia
Model: Planetoid Valleys – Planetaariset Laaksot
Designer: Björn Weckström
Design year: 1969
Date: 1971
Provenance: Finland
Material: sterling silver, 925
Length: approximately 45 cm
Panel dimensions: approximately 2.6 × 2.8 cm
Clasp: integrated hook clasp
Hallmarks: Lapponia maker's mark, 925H, Finnish national control mark, Helsinki mark, S7 date stamp, STERLING FINLAND and BW
Condition: good vintage condition with superficial signs of wear. The necklace was likely polished in the past and therefore has a shinier finish than originally intended. The characteristic texture in the deeper sections and the sharp modelling have been well preserved.