Backes & Strauss

Backes & Strauss are a British diamond and watch company.

History

Founded in 1789, by German immigrant businessmen Georg Carl Backes and (later on) Max Strauss, the company is the oldest diamond company in the world. [ [http://www.thetimetv.com/info/backes-and-strauss-london Backes & Strauss company histroy] ] .

By the early 1800s Georg Carl Backes was a successful goldsmith in the city of Hanau. During this time, his company (originally named Backes & Co.) had done so well that he sent his twenty four year old son Johann Franz to London to open a new office. After Georg Carl's death in 1819, his son continued trading and manufacturing of diamonds and jewellery. Examples were shown at London's great exhibition in 1851 and two pages of its official catalogue were devoted to illustrations of J.F. Backes's jewellery.

By now, Johann had been joined in the business by his sons, Charles and William and in 1856, the company employed an office boy by the name of Max Strauss. Fifteen years later, Max Strauss was managing J.F. Backes & Co. and in 1873, the company started trading as ‘Backes & Strauss'. Manufacturing activities in Britain started in 1877. During that period the hallmark was registered at London's Goldsmiths' Hall in 1878. Charles Backes died in 1890 and two years later, the company decided to concentrate on diamonds. Operating as ‘Diamond and Gem merchants', travelling was intensified between 1904 and 1910, especially to shows.

External links

* [http://www.backesandstrauss.com/ Backes & Strauss]