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About Backes & Strauss Watches

Backes & Strauss is the oldest diamond manufacturer in the world. The German company experienced huge success before the discovery of large diamond mines in South Africa, setting up a head office in London which enabled the company to distribute its diamonds all across the world. The company is unique in its approach to manufacturing in the fact that it focuses on combining the fine art of watchmaking with meticulous diamond craft.

The history of Backes & Strauss began back in 1789 when the company was founded by goldsmith Georg Carl Backes in Hanau, Germany. The skilled craftsman was born in Steinfurth in 1763 but moved at the age of 8 to Hanau. It was here that he registered himself as a goldsmith, marking the birth of his business, Backes & Co. It was his experience as a business owner and an innovator that led to the success of the brand. Backes & Strauss began carving a reputation for itself, trading jewellery and supplying exquisite pieces to the elite. Georg Carl Backes sent his son to London to begin establishing a reputation there, a role that Johann Franz upheld after his father passed away. He continued with the manufacture and trading of diamonds and diamond jewellery in England, separating the company from its German based facilities and renaming it J. F. Backes & Co.

From 1819 onwards J. F. Backes continued to trade, specialising in diamond jewellery manufacture above all else. By the 1850s Johann was joined by his two sons who were helping to run Backes & Strauss. Charles and William employed an office clerk, Max Strauss who 15 years later became the manager for J. F. Backes & Co. It was not until 1873 however that the company began trading under the name of Backes & Strauss. From 1892 Backes & Strauss began travelling the world, creating relationships with some of the world’s most prestigious diamond suppliers and shaking hands with those upholding the highest reputation within the diamond industry. Backes & Strauss sourced, polished and distributed diamonds to an international clientele.

It is the history and tradition of Backes & Strauss that adds to the brand’s uniqueness. In the 1960s the company changed director and CEO but continued operating as it had done in the past. In was not until 2006 that the world’s oldest diamond company would focus its efforts on creating diamond watches. Backes & Strauss partnered up with the Frank Miller Group to create some exceptional timepieces drawing upon the company’s creative philosophy. Today Backes & Strauss watches are designed under the direction of Chief Executive Vartkess Knadjian, who is known all over the world as the ultimate diamond timepiece creator.

Named after famous landmarks in London, Backes & Strauss has created three main watch collections. Piccadilly watches have a classically round shape and have been named after John Nash’s great circular junction. Known as the jewel in the crown, each timepiece from this collection, just like all Backes & Strauss watches, has been adorned with a signature diamond. Others incorporate many more diamonds into their designs and have been finished with beautiful leather straps, a mix of precious metals and elaborate Roman numeral indexes.

Backes & Strauss Berkeley watches are inspired by Berkeley Square located in the heart of Mayfair. Traditional gold buckles encrusted with scintillating diamonds are found on the leather straps of these timepieces, promising to secure comfortably to the wrist, whilst at the same time, exuding sumptuous class and style. Finally, the Regent watch collection embodies the classical proportions of John Nash’s sweeping curves and bold symmetry found in Regent’s Park, Regent’s Street and St James’s Park.

Paying reference to some of the most iconic locations in Britain and combining its classic designs with the timeless beauty of the well loved diamond, Backes & Strauss can appeal to individuals fascinated by meticulous timepieces, but also those with an interest in London’s culture and heritage.

View the Backes & Strauss Watch Collection

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