Anton Heldwein

Anton Heldwein is one of Austria's most renowned jewellery houses, founded in Vienna in 1902 by the goldsmith Anton Heldwein and his wife Charlotte. Its main store has long stood at Graben 13/Bräunerstraße in Vienna's first district, Innere Stadt, an address that has shaped the house's identity as a purveyor of fine jewellery in the heart of the city. The firm began as the independent venture of a trained goldsmith who had apprenticed with the Viennese firm Gebrüder Schwippel and later worked as a master and manager for the jeweller Julius Hügler; his marriage to Charlotte Siess, from an influential Viennese jeweller family, is thought to have provided important support for the new business. The house rose quickly. In its founding year it already exhibited at the winter exhibition of the k.k. Österreichisches Museum für Angewandte Kunst, and it collaborated with leading artists of the Wiener Werkstätte such as Otto Prutscher, Franz Delavill, Karl Witzmann and Dagobert Peche. In 1906 Heldwein received the title of k.u.k. Hofjuwelier (imperial and royal court jeweller). Its most prominent client was Archduke Franz Ferdinand of Austria-Este, who commissioned small gifts such as silver picture frames; the proximity to the heir to the throne is considered one of the reasons the house obtained the court-supplier title so quickly. Across the twentieth century the business passed through the family. After the death of the founder, his son Hans took over; during the Second World War Hans was called to the front and his brother Walter ran the business. In 1940 the shop moved from the Milchgasse to its present location at Graben/Bräunerstraße. In 1945 the store was completely looted by Russian soldiers, and the company had to rebuild with difficulty. Karl Hans Heldwein took over in 1971, and today his son Anton leads the house in the fourth generation of ownership; the atelier describes itself as working in the fifth generation of master craftsmanship. Anton Heldwein, a master goldsmith and gemmologist, has led the family firm since 1991, combining timeless classical designs with modern ones in the house's own atelier. Sebastian Schroeter, his stepson, a GIA-trained gemmologist and graduate in Business Management and Entrepreneurship from Edinburgh Napier University who joined the company in 2013, is gradually taking over the creative direction. The house offers traditional jewellery and goldsmith work alongside watches, silverware and service, and also produces replicas of Wiener Werkstätte designs. Its own creations are marked with the famous Heldwein punch and made by hand, and the atelier presents new creations and brand news through its website and social-media channels.

The Heldwein family probably originated in Neustadt an der Weinstraße. Anton Heldwein (1865–1937) was trained as a goldsmith at the Viennese firm Gebrüder Schwippel from 1879 to 1883 and then worked as a master and manager at the jeweller Julius Hügler. In 1902 he decided to go into business for himself together with his wife Charlotte. Charlotte Heldwein, née Siess, came from an influential Viennese jeweller family, which probably provided the necessary support. In its founding year the house was already represented with its own stand at the winter exhibition at the k.k. Österreichisches Museum für Angewandte Kunst. Heldwein designed many of his works himself but also worked closely with well-known artists of the Wiener Werkstätte such as Otto Prutscher, Franz Delavill, Karl Witzmann and Dagobert Peche. The house's meteoric rise earned Heldwein the title of k.u.k. Hofjuwelier (imperial and royal court jeweller) in 1906. Its main customer, however, was Archduke Franz Ferdinand of Austria-Este, who liked to commission small gifts such as silver picture frames from Heldwein. The proximity to the heir to the throne was presumably one of the reasons why Heldwein was able to obtain the court-supplier title so quickly. After the death of the elder Heldwein, his son Hans took over the business. During the Second World War Hans had to go to the front, and his brother Walter ran the business. In 1940 the shop moved from the Milchgasse to its present location at Graben/Bräunerstraße. In 1945 the store was completely looted by Russian soldiers, and the company could only rebuild itself with difficulty. In 1971 Karl Hans Heldwein took over the business; his son Anton leads it today in the fourth generation. According to the company's own account, the atelier has been creating one-of-a-kind pieces by master hand since 1902, today already in the fifth generation under the creative and craft direction of Anton Heldwein. Anton Heldwein, a master goldsmith and gemmologist, has led the traditional family business since 1991 with great passion and dedication. In his in-house atelier he combines timeless classical designs with modern designs, meeting the high expectations of his clientele. Sebastian Schroeter, Anton Heldwein's stepson, is now following in his footsteps and gradually taking over the creative direction of the company. Schroeter, a GIA-trained gemmologist and a graduate of the Business Management and Entrepreneurship programme at Edinburgh Napier University, has been with the company since 2013. With his unique combination of specialist knowledge and entrepreneurial skill, he ensures that Heldwein remains successful in the future by advancing both quality and the company's creative development. In this way the family business continues to be run between tradition and innovation. Beyond the traditional range of jewels and gold jewellery, the shop also offers watches and silverware as well as service. Heldwein also offers replicas of the Wiener Werkstätte. The house's motto — drawing from tradition and creating something new from it, preserving values and realising visions — guides its work, and every design begins with the inspiring presence of a select gemstone before sketches, designs, materials and arrangements are planned, sometimes discarded, until a precious piece is ennobled with the famous Heldwein punch: made by hand.

• 2013

  Sebastian Schroeter, stepson of Anton Heldwein, joins the company and gradually takes over its creative direction.

• 1991

  Anton Heldwein, master goldsmith and gemmologist, takes over leadership of the family firm.

• 1971

  Karl Hans Heldwein takes over the business.

• 1945

  The store is completely looted by Russian soldiers; the company rebuilds with difficulty.

• 1940

  The shop moves from the Milchgasse to its present location at Graben/Bräunerstraße.

• 1937

  Founder Anton Heldwein dies; his son Hans takes over the business.

• 1906

  Heldwein is awarded the title of k.u.k. Hofjuwelier (imperial and royal court jeweller).

• 1902

  Anton Heldwein and his wife Charlotte found the jewellery house in Vienna; it exhibits at the winter exhibition of the k.k. Österreichisches Museum für Angewandte Kunst.

• 1879

  Anton Heldwein begins his goldsmith apprenticeship at the Viennese firm Gebrüder Schwippel (until 1883).

• 1865

  Anton Heldwein, founder of the family dynasty's jewellery business, is born.

Traditional Viennese luxury jeweller and former imperial court supplier, combining heritage craftsmanship with modern design in a family-run atelier.

• Rings

• Earrings (Ohrgehänge)

• Colliers (necklaces)

• Accessories

• Watches

• Silverware

• Wiener Werkstätte replicas

• Bespoke one-of-a-kind jewellery from the Heldwein atelier

1. 1Home – Heldweinheldwein.at
2. 2Über Uns – Heldweinheldwein.at
3. 3Anton Heldwein – Wikidatawikidata.org
4. 4Anton Heldwein – Wikipedia (German)de.wikipedia.org