Rago Auctions

Founded in 1893 Munich, Germany, brothers Joseph and Anton Hemmerle took ownership of a pre-established goldsmith company, renaming it Hemmerle. They crafted jewels for the Bavarian government and other German noble families and from there, through relentless dedication and exceptional craftsmanship, they grew the business to become an exclusive jewelry house for the wealthy elite. The brothers opened their boutique in 1904 on Maximlianstrasse in Munich, where they became a sought-after jeweler. Decades later, in 1999, they renovated a townhouse in Munich for 15 dedicated goldsmiths. No aspect of the jewelry-making process is outsourced; Hemmerle jewels are hand-crafted entirely in-house, some taking upwards of 500 hours to create.

At their core, Hemmerle considers each piece of jewelry a work of art. They have epitomized the idea of “less is more” in their designs, focusing on large, exceptional colored gems paired with unusual metals and patinas. While large in scale, each piece has an understated sophistication. Today, Hemmerle jewels are worn around the world and recognizable for their exceptional design, and they continue to push boundaries and surprise collectors with their innovation.

Hemmerle remains a family-owned business and is currently in its fourth generation, headed by Stefan and Sylveli Hemmerle with their son and daughter-in-law, Christian and Yasmin. Hemmerle jewels have been featured in many exhibitions, including The Pearl at the Museum of Islamic Art, Doha, Qatar; Myths: Jewels Today at the State Museum of Applied Arts and Design, Munich, Germany; and Serpentina: The Snake in Jewellery Around the World at the Pforzheim Jewellery Museum, Pforzheim, Germany. They are active participants in art fairs such as TEFAF and Masterpiece and their jewelry rarely comes to auction.