GOLDSMITH'S ART SINCE 1767

In 1767, Margrave Karl Friedrich von Baden laid the foundation stone for the jewelry and watch industry in Pforzheim. With the edict of April 6, 1767, the enlightened prince allowed the Frenchman Jean Francois Autran to set up a pocket watch factory in the Pforzheim orphanage on the banks of the En River. Permission to expand into a jewelry and fine steel goods factory followed in the same year.

Markgraf Karl Friedrich von Baden

OLDEST GOLDSMITH SCHOOL IN THE WORLD

The foundation stone for the development of Pforzheim as a gold town had been laid. Only one year later, the Margrave was the godfather of what is probably the oldest vocational school in the world: The Goldsmith School with Watchmaking School was founded in 1768 to meet the demand for trained young professionals that the Latin schools and universities could not satisfy.

To this day, the school at St.-Georgen-Steige is unique in Europe. It unites under one roof a vocational school, vocational schools for goldsmiths and for watchmakers, a master school for goldsmiths and engravers, a vocational school for design, jewelry and appliances, a vocational school for product design, and a vocational school for design in the field of jewelry and appliances.

JEWELRY AVANT-GARDE

Regardless of the type of school, there is one common goal: to ensure that the next generation of jewelry and watchmakers receives specialized training and continuing education. In doing so, the Pforzheimers pay special attention to comprehensively teaching and promoting both technical craftsmanship and creative design skills.

Founded in 1988, the Vocational College for Design, Jewelry and Appliances is increasingly focusing on design training in addition to craft skills. The decision to expand the educational offering was prompted by the jewelry avant-garde, which had been influenced by art since the 1960s.

"Our team consists of setters, goldsmiths, model goldsmiths, model setters and fine polishers. We are dedicated artisans who seek challenges and enjoy our work. For the luxury label Dirndlblüte© we produce components for traditional costume bags in finest goldsmith work." Michael Kleinhans, Master Goldsmith, Pforzheim

GERMAN CRAFTSMANSHIP

Almost 500 young people from all over the world learn traditional German craftsmanship there. The young talents would not have to worry about jobs. Goldsmiths and watchmakers in particular are once again desperately sought after - worldwide.

Das Edelweiß der Trachtentasche Karoline.

WORLDWIDE EXPANSION

Shortly after the sovereign founding of the watch and jewelry factory, private-sector initiatives ensured expansion: Pforzheim thus became the "most important factory town in the Margraviate of Baden. Abroad, people spoke with respect of "Little Geneva". Pforzheim, as a traffic junction conveniently located between the Prague-Paris and Frankfurt-Ulm axes, took off rapidly and supplied jewelry to foreign countries near and far.

As late as 1913 - when Pforzheim had 75,000 inhabitants - almost 37,500 people were employed in the jewelry and watchmaking industry. Shortly before the Second World War, the jewelry industry still employed 24,000 people. On February 23, 1945, an Allied bombing raid leveled the Pforzheim jewelry industry to the ground within half an hour. After the war, a concerted effort was made to rebuild.

By 1953, Pforzheim was once again the world's main supplier of jewelry and silverware.

Dirndlblüte© is the only luxury label for handmade traditional bags from Germany. Each unique piece is made by master craftsmen in the former leather stronghold of Germany. The bags bear names of famous women of the Bavarian monarchy and are just as special. These extraordinary Trachten und Dirndl bags are crowned by the finest goldsmith's work from Pforzheim.