Friday, 3 December 2025 | quality, transparency
The Georg Jensen Kettle that Broke my Heart
Georg Jensen’s Bernadotte Kettle and Toaster (shown in mirror polished stainless steel)
Image source: Wallpaper
I was excited to discover Georg Jensen was launching its first electric kettle and toaster in 2024. I was in the market for a new kettle and could hardly wait for it to arrive at a deluxe retail pedestal near me.
The mirror polished stainless steel and matte black options joined the exclusive Bernadotte collection distinguished by their sleek thinly-fluted exterior, promising perfectly brewed coffee and just the right tone of gold for the toast.
I was smitten. My husband, on the other hand, had his reservations.
“It doesn’t have an exterior gage”, he muttered, when we finally saw it in person.
“How am I supposed to know how much water is inside?”
I went into defensive mode.
“But this is not just a kettle, it’s a piece of art!”, I exclaimed, trying to appeal to his artistic side.
“And look at the quality”, I continued.
Being health-conscious, I also highlighted the interior stainless steel surface where, unlike other kettles, water never came into contact with any harmful plastics.
He remained unconvinced. It was his “practical” day and not even the well-balanced handle, double-walled shell or roomy 1.5 litre capacity was going to sway him. The marital compromise scale favoured him that day, and it was my turn to wave the white flag.
We ended up with a clear-glass Sunbeam, which we’re still using today. BTW, it still works, but also, it’s still ugly…
Fast-forward to last week, when we visited our friends for dinner.
There it was. The shiny Bernadotte kettle, proudly claiming its well-appointed spot on the kitchen stone bench. I have to admit, a brief feeling of envy washed over me.
When coffee time came around, I rushed over to play with the kettle.
I clicked the release button on top of the lid. Nothing. I clicked it again. It didn’t budge. I thought third time will be lucky, but again, nothing. I tried it for the last time, with great focus and slightly more force. Finally, the lid flipped up.
The rest of the experiment progressed as anticipated, and we had hot water in no time. But my struggle to get the kettle opened left me feeling disenchanted. With each click, my romanticised expectations of great quality associated with such label sunk lower and lower.
I mean, when you pay triple the price of budget brands, you expect not to fight with the appliance — even if it does look super sexy. Looks are only part of the story, and most people are expecting the complete package.
This isn’t the first time I had been disillusioned by a designer label, and it probably won’t be the last. Though, there should be a special category for brands that prioritise aesthetic appeal over everything else … gilt-grade comes to mind.
The saddest part is that we are now getting used to substandard “luxury”, with more and more high-end brands offering premium-wash products.
Here’s the thing, I’m always happy to pay more. But when I do, I expect more than just great design, more than just a glossy veneer.
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