Franz Breuning was born in Hanau (Main) on March 15, 1901, as the third child of the jewelry wholesaler Thomas Breuning. 26 years later, in 1927, he founded the jewelry company "Franz Breuning" on Rudolfstraße in Pforzheim with six employees and in the subsequent decades, the company gained international renown.
Franz Breuning
* 15.03.1901 - † 27.03.1967
Even during his apprenticeship as a commercial employee in a rhinestone factory in Hanau, Franz Breuning strove for higher things and something of his own. "... naturally, I was assigned the least important and simplest work. This went on until I complained to my boss. That was successful, I was transferred to the accounting department." During his apprenticeship, he learnt the "key secrets of manufacturing," which laid the foundations for his later company.
In October 1927, Franz Breuning rented a modest premises on Rudolfstraße, equipping it with items from a secondhand dealer – a polishing and goldsmith's workbench, some tools, tables and chairs – and only a few designs. The business immediately began to flourish, the number of employees grew to 20 and after ten months the company moved to larger premises on Bleichstraße. The focus in the early years was on earrings.
Several company relocations due to growth
1934 | Relocation to Luisenstraße
1939 | Relocation to Grünstraße with 80 employees
1940 | Establishment of a branch in Neuenbürg (photo on the left)
The workforce on Grünstraße grew to almost 160 employees until the Second World War broke out and many of the male employees were drafted and did not return.
1960 | Foundation and construction of a branch in Königsbach-Stein with 60 employees. Doublé and silver manufacturing took place there until 1987. In 1963, Franz Breuning acquired the Karl Haugstätter jewelry and watch factory with 30 skilled workers, which was later renamed Saint Maurice. Today, Saint Maurice still sells wedding rings and solitaire jewelry from Pforzheim.
Rolf Breuning
* 01.05.1929 - † 29.09.1989
Rolf Breuning, son of Franz Breuning, completed his apprenticeship in the family business in 1946. In 1953, he joined the company as a shareholder. At the time, 90 employees were already producing earrings in over 2,000 designs. After the death of his father in 1967, he became the sole owner.
1967 | NEW CONSTRUCTION OF THE FACTORY AT LUISENSTRASSE 60
Shortly after the death of Franz Breuning, the current company headquarters at Luisenstraße 60 were completed in 1967. At the time, the company had 610 employees and in 1977, on its 50th anniversary, it was able to call itself "Germany's largest jewelry manufacturer."
Marcus Breuning
* 28.05.1967 - † 23.11.2020
In 1989, at the age of 22, Marcus Breuning joined the company as Managing Director on the death of his father and helped the company to achieve further international renown.
Production facility opened in Bangkok
In 1991, Marcus Breuning opened an office in Bangkok, Thailand, and one year later Breuning Limited was founded – production in a 7,500-square-meter space started at the beginning of 1993. Today, Breuning employs over 400 people at its Bangkok plant and, alongside the production of its own jewelry, the company successfully supplies international customers as an OEM.
Wedding rings
2000 Breuning expanded its product range and launched its first wedding ring collections. Today, wedding ring production is an integral part of the jewelry manufacturer's business and takes place entirely at the Pforzheim site.
