backes & Strauss archives

British Heritage & Diamond Watchmaking: The Legacy of Backes & Strauss in London

Located in the heart of historic central London, the new Backes & Strauss home reflects the elegance and luxury of England’s Regency Era. Along with its exclusive watches, the new location houses the historical archives of the company dating back to the late 19th Century. These documents reveal the extent of the significant role Backes & Strauss diamond brand provided in sourcing the finest rough diamonds polishing them and distributing them to an international clientele. Paging through the day books, one sees a list of clients reading like today’s who’s who of the luxury diamond watch industry: Cartier, Bulgari, Tiffany, Mikimoto, Boucheron and many others.

  • Backes & Strauss trademark featuring the ostrich symbol, representing the brand’s heritage in diamond watches

    Backes & Strauss Trade Mark

    As a matter of fact the German word "Strauss" means ostrich. The ostrich remains to this day the symbol of the brand.

  • Backes & Strauss offices in London, Hanau, and Paris showcasing the global presence of the brand

    Backes & Strauss London, Hanau and Paris offices

  • Backes & Strauss diamond advertising about rough cut diamonds and pearls for high jewellery craftsmanship and heritage

    Backes & Strauss diamond advertising

  • Backes & Strauss diamond manufacturer trademark representing historic expertise in luxury diamond watches and fine jewellery.

    Backes & Strauss Diamond Manufacturer Trade Mark

  • Backes & Strauss first trademark featuring the ostrich, used on all creations since Max Strauss joined

    Backes & Strauss first trademark

    Ever since Max Strauss joined the company at the beginning of the 19th century, the ostrich was used as trademark on all Backes & Strauss creations.

  • Backes & Strauss egyptian correspondence book documenting the exchange of letters from the brand archive

    Backes & Strauss Egyptian Correspondence Book 

  • Backes & Strauss Egyptian correspondence book inner page from Cairo records

    Egyptian Correspondence

    Cairo, December, 1904

  • Backes & Strauss balance sheets documenting historic financial records of the luxury diamond brand

    Backes & Strauss Balance Sheet

  • Backes & Strauss daybook with diamond records documenting historic luxury diamond trading

    Backes & Strauss Daybook with diamond records

  • Backes & Strauss Italian orrespondence book inner page from Naples brand records

    Italian Correspondence

    Naples, July 28, 1909

  • Backes & Strauss London diamond company advertising highlighting the art of diamond cleaving and craftsmanship

    The art of cleaving

    Backes & Strauss London Diamond Company Advertising

  • Sawing the diamond at Backes & Strauss London, showcasing precision craftsmanship in diamond cutting

    Sawing the Diamond

    Backes & Strauss London Diamond Company Advertising

  • Girdling rounds of the diamond in Backes & Strauss London advertising, showing diamond expertise

    Girdling rounds of the diamond

    Backes & Strauss London diamond company Advertising

  • Advertisement featuring a man polishing diamonds at a workbench, emphasizing skill in polishing

    Diamond Polishing

    Backes & Strauss London Diamond Company Advertising

  • Backes & Strauss Jewellery Watch Catalogue page with the illustration of the watches and bracelets

    Backes & Strauss Jewellery Watch Catalogue

  • Backes & Strauss Jewellery Gold Watch Catalogue page with the jewellery design from the archives

    Backes & Strauss Jewellery Gold Watch Catalogue

  • Backes & Strauss day book record of diamond purchase from Mikimoto Pearls in 1923, documenting historic trade

    Diamond Records, Mikimoto Pearls

    May 2, 1923

  • Diamond Records from the brand archives, Cartier Ltd, July 21, 1925

    Diamond Records, Cartier Ltd

    July 21, 1925

  • Backes & Strauss diamond records for Boodles, documenting diamond trade and heritage partnerships.

    Diamond Records, Boodles

    April 28, 1925

  • Diamond Records of Garrard & Co purchasing diamonds from Backes & Strauss

    Diamond Records, Garrard & Co

    May 1, 1928

Backes & Strauss at British Museum