Gübelin

Active

Country: Switzerland (CH)
Founded: 1996
HQ: Lucerne, Switzerland
Employees: ~163

Indexes

Watches

Overview

The House of Gübelin is a Swiss family-owned company specializing in high-end jewelry, luxury watches, and gemstone expertise. Founded in 1854, it operates through pillars including the Gübelin Gem Lab, Gübelin Academy, and Gübelin Jewellery, with a global presence via boutiques and gem labs in locations such as Lucerne, New York, Hong Kong, and Bangkok.¹³⁵⁸

History

The House of Gübelin was founded in 1854 in Lucerne, Switzerland, as a small watchmaker’s shop by the Gübelin family. It expanded over generations, moving to larger locations in Lucerne and developing expertise in gemstones, jewelry, and luxury watches. Key milestones include the 2017 opening of the Gübelin Gem Lab in New York and the launch of Provenance Proof for gemstone transparency. Today, in its sixth generation under Raphael Gübelin, it remains family-run.¹³⁸

Product Lines

Product Line	Positioning	Price Range
High Jewellery	Exceptional designs with colored gemstones and diamonds	$50,000 - $1,000,000+
Gübelin Jewellery	Timeless pieces inspired by gemstone inner worlds	$10,000 - $200,000
Luxury Watches (Retail)	Purveyor of brands like Patek Philippe and Audemars Piguet	$20,000 - $500,000+
Vintage Watches	Restored Swiss timepieces with sourced high-end movements	$5,000 - $100,000

Manufacturing

Gübelin jewelry is crafted in Switzerland by skilled artisans using precious metals and gemstones, with in-house gemmological expertise from the Gübelin Gem Lab. Watches historically featured movements sourced from top suppliers like Eterna, finished to high standards by Gübelin watchmakers; current offerings primarily retail luxury brands produced by those manufacturers.¹⁴⁷

Notable Products

Provenance Proof Initiative - Technology platform for transparency in colored gemstone sourcing and classification.
Gübelin Gem Lab Services - Gemmological analysis and classification from labs in Lucerne, New York, Hong Kong, and Bangkok.
High Jewelry Collections - Rings, earrings, bracelets, and necklaces featuring rare colored gemstones and diamonds.
Vintage Gübelin Watches - Timepieces with carefully selected movements like Eterna 852, finished in-house.
170th Anniversary Watch - Special edition designed by Santiago Calatrava to mark 170 years.

Reputation

Gübelin is highly regarded by professionals for its gemstone expertise, family heritage, and contributions to industry transparency via initiatives like Provenance Proof. Watch enthusiasts value its historical role in distributing rare Patek Philippe and Audemars Piguet pieces, as well as its own vintage watches with superior finishing. It maintains a respected position as a luxury retailer and jeweler, though less known for in-house watch manufacturing compared to brands it retails.¹³⁴⁸

Sources (8)