history & heritage

“We wanted to combine mastery in diamond-cutting with mastery in watchmaking; two crafts requiring a high amount of skill, precision and attention to detail. While searching for a partner watchmaker, Backes & Strauss chose to work with the Franck Muller Group because of its revolutionary creative philosophy of combining tradition with modernity, an attribute Backes & Strauss shares. ”

— Vartkess Knadjian, CEO

TIMELINE

1789

CREATION OF BACKES & STRAUSS
In the year of the French Revolution, Georg carl Backes, the founding father of the company, was first registered as a goldsmith in Hanau, Germany.
1814

BACKES & STRAUSS IN LONDON
Johann Franz, Georges Backes' son, opened a branch office in London at 10 Hatton Garden - London. Even though the building no longer exists, the Backes and Strauss group still has offices in London on Jermyn Street - Mayfair.
1819

BACKES & STRAUSS JEWELLERY MANUFACTURERS
Jewellery manufacturing operations set up in London UK, Hanau Germany and Paris, France.
1856

MAX STRAUSS JOINS THE COMPANY
Max Strauss, the second founding father, entered the London office in 1856. Fifteen years later he was managing JF Backes & Co and two years later the company started trading as Backes and Strauss.
1878

OFFICIAL REGISTRATION OF THE BACKES & STRAUSS HALLMARK
The Backes & Strauss hallmark was officially registered in London’s Goldsmiths’ Hall in 1878.
1904

BACKES & STRAUSS WORLDWIDE EXPANSION
Towards the turn of the century, Mr. Ben and Mr. Frank Strauss travel extensively establishing business relationships and promoting Backes & Strauss in Alexandria, Vienna, Rome, Bucharest, Paris, Japan, Singapore and India.
1953

CREATION OF THE ANTWERP OFFICE
Antwerp office is founded by Gerald Stroud under the direction of Robert Lee and Gustave Ponet.
1957

BACKES & STRAUSS SETS UP AN OFFICE IN MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA
Backes & Strauss carries on expanding rapidly, opening a new office in Melbourne, Australia.
1976

VARTKESS KNADJIAN JOINS BACKES & STRAUSS
Vartkess Knadjian joined the company and took over the reins of the Antwerp office by 1982 after Robert Lee retired
2000

VARTKESS KNADJIAN BECOMES THE GROUP CEO
Robert Lee, the former Managing Director, retires and Vartkess Knadjian takes over the reigns of the Antwerp office.
2006

THE MEETING OF MASTERS
Backes & Strauss gets into strategic tie-up with the Franck Muller Group and launches its flagship collection of Regent, Berkeley & Piccadilly watches in November 2006.
2007

BACKES & STRAUSS TIMEPIECES FIRST SHOWCASE
Backes & Strauss showcases its watch collection for the first time at WPHH. Retail launches in Harrods, Asprey and Theo Fennel in London. Subsequent launches in USA, Japan, Italy, Canada and France.
2010

BACKES & STRAUSS UNVEILS ITS NEW JEWELLERY COLLECTION
Backes & Strauss showcases its luxury jewellery collection for the first time at WPHH 2010 (World Presentation of Haute Horlogerie in Monaco).
2012

LAUNCH OF THE REGENT DIAMOND JUBILEE WATCH AT HARRODS, LONDON
The Diamond Jubilee Collection is aptly a Regent, designed, crafted and inspired by our Diamond Queen, Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, 1952 – 2012, in celebration of her 60 year reign.