Wellendorff
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| Company type | family-owned |
|---|---|
| Industrie | luxury |
| Gegründet | 1893 |
| Hauptsitz | Pforzheim, Germany |
Area served | Worldwide |
| Produkte | jewellery |
Number of employees | 80 |
| Website | www.wellendorff.com |
Wellendorff is a family-owned German manufacturer of luxury jewellery headquartered in Pforzheim, Baden Württemberg. The company rose to fame on the strength of its rope necklace and coloured spinning rings, now known as the brand’s classic items.
History
The manufactory was established in Pforzheim in 1893 by Ernst Alexander Wellendorff, the business is now run by his great-great grandchildren. E. A. Wellendorff trained at the Grand Duchy of Baden Arts College in Pforzheim, graduating with top marks. The proximity to Baden-Baden, where German nobility and the international aristocracy gathered to take the waters, played a part in the rapid rise of this self-employed designer and goldsmith. His excellent goldsmith work and artistic skills soon brought him to the attention of clients in Russia and England.[2]
The great accomplishment of his son, Alex Wellendorff, was to rebuild the manufactory after it was totally destroyed in the Second World War. He remained true to the traditions of the company by fashioning jewellery of gold and gemstones.
In 1960 Hanspeter Wellendorff (son of Dr. Alex Wellendorff and grandson of Ernst Alexander) became the company’s managing director. Having trained in business studies and the goldsmith’s art Hanspeter decided to create a brand out of the enterprise. He developed the trademark “Brilliant W” and established the Wellendorff brand.
The classic Wellendorff rope first appeared in 1978. To this day it is made in essentially the same way. To make a collier a goldsmith requires a solid gold wire roughly as long as two football field (160 m).[3] Since 1993 the manufactory has achieved notable successes with its collection of cold enamel jewellery, especially rings. Another special feature of these rings is that they revolve within themselves.[4]
Among the most popular items are the “rings of the year”. The first ring of the year was called Hong Kong; it appeared in 1997 to mark the UK’s handing over of the former Crown Colony to China. Every year since, a limited edition ring of the year with select motif has appeared.
To this day the manufactory works exclusively with 18 carat gold and platinum, set with precious gemstones.
There are Wellendorff boutiques in KaDeWe Berlin, Hotel Adlon Berlin, in Mainz and in Stuttgart.
References
- ^ Imprint of own website wellendorff.com (accessed last 19th February 2012)
- ^ Article about the enterprise Wellendorff at Robbreport.com (last accessed 19th February 2012)
- ^ Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung: „Ein zehnmal gespaltenes Haar in Gold“ (german, A ten times split hair in gold) (accessed last 19th February 2012)
- ^ [1] Article about jewelry of Wellendorff at Affluentmagazine.com] (accessed last 19th February 2012)