Quick Answer
What is solje?
Solje is a style of traditional Norwegian jewelry — typically silver, sometimes gilded — made of disc-shaped or filigree pendants hung with small spoon-shaped charms that catch and reflect light as the wearer moves. It is worn as part of a bunad, especially at weddings and other formal occasions.
Last updated:
Last updated:
What is solje?
Also called: solje jewelry, Norwegian silver brooch.
Solje is the jewelry that finishes a bunad rather than sitting alongside it — pinned at the collar or worn as a full necklace, its dangling charms are designed to move and catch the light, which historically fed into a belief that the glinting motion helped ward off evil. At a Norwegian wedding, seeing solje on both the bride and her guests wearing regional bunads is entirely expected.
What solje looks like and how it is worn
- •Traditionally made of silver, sometimes gilded, in filigree or disc patterns specific to a region.
- •Small spoon-shaped or bell-shaped charms hang from the main piece and move as the wearer does, catching light.
- •Worn pinned at the collar as a brooch, or as a full layered necklace, depending on the regional bunad style.
- •Folklore in some regions held that the glinting, jingling charms helped protect the wearer from evil — a belief now treated as tradition and craft heritage rather than literal practice.
Planning notes
- •Genuine silver solje pieces are often family heirlooms — check early whether one is available to borrow rather than assuming a new piece is needed.
- •If buying or renting, match the solje style to the specific regional bunad being worn, since patterns are not interchangeable across regions.
- •Factor solje into the getting-ready and photography timeline, since pinning it correctly takes a bit more care than a standard brooch.
Track heirloom and rented items in one checklist
Keep tabs on which jewelry, bunads and other heirloom pieces are borrowed, rented or need pickup using Weddingkart's multi-event tools.
See multi-event scheduling →Frequently Asked Questions
Is solje only worn by the bride?
No — solje is worn by any woman wearing a bunad, including guests, so it is common to see multiple people at a Norwegian wedding wearing their own solje pieces.
What is solje traditionally made of?
Traditionally silver, sometimes gilded silver, crafted in regional filigree or disc patterns with small dangling charms.
Do men wear solje-style jewelry with a bunad?
Men's bunad accessories are typically simpler — silver buttons or clasps rather than the dangling brooch or necklace style of solje worn with women's bunads.
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By Mayank JaiswalLast updated