World First: A Glimpse Inside Bucherer’s Debut High Jewellery Boutique

December 6, 2022

By Katerina Perez

7 min read

It’s an exciting time for Bucherer Fine Jewellery which is celebrating the launch of a new High Jewellery collection and the opening of its first and only High Jewellery boutique in Frankfurt, Germany. When I was invited to visit the boutique personally and look around the beautifully decorated space, I had to quickly book a train from Paris to Frankfurt, discover the retail space and let you see it through my eyes here and on @katerina_perez Instagram. So, let’s go behind the scenes of this new jewellery destination and discover some of the diamond and coloured gemstone creations that best represent the brand’s 130-year history.

The Bucherer Fine Jewellery story began in 1888 when Carl F. Bucherer opened his first jewellery and watch shop in Lucerne, Switzerland. Now, more than 130 years later, this third-generation family business is celebrating another milestone in the form of its inaugural High Jewellery boutique in Frankfurt, Germany. The two-storey destination is located on the famous Goethestrasse in the city and provides a glimpse into Bucherer’s meticulous, heritage-infused world. Plus, there’s a new High Jewellery collection to enjoy, including pieces set with emeralds, sapphires and colourless diamonds that celebrate the women behind the brand.

Inside the new High Jewellery shop of Bucherer Fine Jewellery in Frankfurt, Germany

The store features an installation by the artist Felix Stumpf

An installation by the artist Felix Stumpf located in the air space serves as a connecting element between the two floors

Customers can feel as if they are in a luxurious, contemporary loft here, which is accessed via a lift

Bucherer Fine Jewellery display case in Frankfurt featuring a high jewellery necklace and earrings suite

Bucherer Fine Jewellery display case in Frankfurt featuring emerald and sapphire Cocktail rings

Close up of a Bucherer Fine Jewellery display case in Frankfurt featuring emerald and sapphire Cocktail rings

When you step inside the new space, you can really feel the soul of one of Europe’s oldest and most esteemed jewellers. It’s described as a “sanctuary of subtle luxury and contemporary aesthetics,” which is an adept way to explain its palette of neutral hues, textures and organic shapes, punctuated with glossy cabinets and modern light fixtures. There’s an installation by the artist Felix Stumpf that serves as a connecting element between the two floors, even though they are designed slightly differently. The ground floor, home to the brand’s fine jewellery lines such as B Dimension, Lacrima and Pastello, is decorated with light oak parquet flooring and white wooden walls blended with futuristic platinum and silver-coloured concrete. In contrast, the upper floor is like a luxurious loft apartment space with comfortable seating and lounge areas. This home away from home is where you will find high jewellery pieces and a selection of loose coloured gemstones that offer inspiration to bespoke clients.

The Bucherer Fine Jewellery shop in Frankfurt Germany is set across two floors with a chic apartment feel

And speaking of high jewellery, I must also mention the brand’s debut High Jewellery collection, which is inspired by two of the most influential and important women in its history books: Carl F. Bucherer’s wife Louise and their daughter-in-law Wilhelmina ‘Mina’ Bucherer. Contrary to the conventions of the late 19th and early 20th centuries, Louise and Mina played a leading role in establishing the jewellery atelier in Lucerne and guiding the brand to success. The number eight appears as a lucky number in various details of the creations and symbolises Bucherer’s founding year of 1888.

Katerina Perez holding an Art Deco inpsired emerald and diamond High Jewellery necklace by Bucherer Fine Jewellery

High Jewellery means absolute perfection. Each piece of jewellery is unique and comes with its own story.

Among the pieces, there are icy white diamonds reminiscent of Louise’s business acumen alongside colourful gemstones that recall Mina’s global travels sourcing gemstones. According to the brand: “The designs of the collection skilfully capture the contradictory nature of the two women. The shapes and lines of the pieces are inspired by the architecture of Lucerne, blending the contrasting values of modern and historical in perfect harmony – just like the Bucherer women did.”

Katerina Perez holding one of Bucherer Fine Jewellery's latest high jewellery creations

The Bucherer High Jewellery necklace is set with a 13.56-ct cushion-shaped sapphire and diamond pavé

The Bucherer High Jewellery Necklace is reminiscent of the Water Tower of the Chapel Bridge of Lucerne, the home of Maison Bucherer Fine Jewellery

The Bucherer High Jewellery Sapphire necklace pays tribute to the Bucherer women and to their hometown, the city of Lucerne

The star of the collection is the architectural Octagonal necklace that’s inspired by the Water Tower of the Chapel Bridge in Lucerne and is said to capture Louise’s “fiery passion”. At its heart is a 13.56-carat cushion-shaped sapphire surrounded by a three-dimensional display of 1,246 brilliant-cut diamonds suspended from a diamond-set necklace.

Katerina Perez holding two sapphire and emerald Bucherer Fine Jewellery Cocktail rings

Next, there’s the Art Deco ring with a 22.79-carat Asscher-cut sapphire from Sri Lanka set in a towering design paved with 400 brilliant-cut diamonds of 1.76 carats. A second sapphire ring, inspired by Mina Bucherer, bursts with a 14.44-carat Sri Lankan gem, two Brazilian emeralds with a total weight of 2.07 carats, and a further 156 round sapphires of 1.33 carats. A third ring flips this colour palette and gives a 6.82-carat Colombian emerald the starring role, flanked by two cushion-cut blue sapphires of 7.25 carats in total.

Katerina Perez wearing the Bucherer Fine Jewellery emerald, sapphire, aquamarine and diamond high jewellery sweet

Close of of the aquamarine, emerald and diamond High Jewellery necklace by Bucherer Fine Jewellery

Katerina Perez wearing a High Jewellery cuff and ring featuring diamonds, emeralds, sapphires and aquamarines by Bucherer Fine Jewellery

Close up of the High Jewellery cuff featuring a 17.96-ct Santa Maria blue aquamarine by Bucherer Fine Jewellery

Elsewhere in the collection, there’s a pair of diamond earrings with two pear-cut gems hovering in a labyrinth of 58 baguette-cut stones. If you ask me about my favourites, I particularly like the aquamarine cuff bracelet adorned with 1,200 gemstones and diamonds. It’s anchored by a Santa Maria blue gemstone of 17.96 carats with radiating lines of sapphires and emeralds, which swim in a sea of 992 diamonds totalling 48.89 carats. To match this cuff are a pair of earrings with two octagonal Santa Maria aquamarines of 16.76 carats that cascade into octagon-shaped sapphires and emeralds.

Katerina Perez holding pear-cut and baguette diamond High Jewellery earrings by Bucherer Fine Jewellery

Finally, to complete the inaugural Bucherer High Jewellery collection are a series of five one-of-a-kind cocktail rings, each with the same bombe-style design but a different colour variation. Two pieces of note contain a 25.86-carat rubellite and a 24-62 carat tanzanite, respectively, complemented with red, lilac and blue spinels. If I was to choose just one, I don’t think I would be able to! But a client of Bucherer has already picked one and it’s no longer available.

High Jewellery Cocktail rings featuring a 25.86-ct rubellite, a purple and blue 24.62-ct tanzanite, a 22.79-ct oval sapphire, a 22.54-ct mint green tourmaline and a 10.55-ct aquamarine by Bucherer Fine Jewellery

It is incredible to think that Bucherer is still in the hands of the Bucherer family after so many decades and it’s easy to imagine how exciting this new boutique opening is for everyone involved! Jörg G. Bucherer, the third-generation owner and chairman of the Board of the Bucherer Group, says: “We are writing a new chapter in the history of our family’s company. My whole life has been about the possibilities of the future, driven by a constant passion for the extraordinary and the exceptional. The opening of our very first High Jewellery boutique in Frankfurt is the continuation of a journey that began with my grandfather’s pioneering spirit and my grandmother’s commitment to the family company.”

The upper floor of the Bucherer Fine Jewellery Frankfurt store focuses on the diversity of colour gemstone and diamond expertise with carefully selected pieces of jewellery and loose gemstones from Bucherer’s ateliers

I’d like to thank Bucherer for inviting me to spend time in its new boutique, which feels like a relaxing environment and a luxurious escape from reality. So, if you are visiting Frankfurt and find yourself on Goethestrasse, make sure to stop by and feel inspired.

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