A TRADITION WE COMMIT OURSELVES TO.

1862
Out of love for Elise Kiehnle, Max Gerstner founds his own company in Pforzheim in 1862, laying the foundation for one of the most important wedding ring companies of the century to come. Max and Elise exchange their vows in the same year.

1891
Max Gerstner dies at the early age of 56. His death reunites him with his beloved wife who had died four years earlier during the birth of their 10th child.

1892
August Gerstner and his brother Richard take over their father’s company. Five years later, Richard decides to go his own ways as a gemstone dealer.

1902
August Gerstner discovers the wedding ring as branch of business. On 11 July, he files a patent for a “seamless golden wedding ring” at the Imperial Patent Office.

1906
August Gerstner finds the final location for the company headquarters in the Calwer Straße 131 in Pforzheim.

1911
August Gerstner dies way too early at the age of only 46.

1911
Women’s power: August Gerstner’s widow Hedwig manages the company together with their daughter Erika. One year later, her brother Rudolf Auerbach joins the female management team.

1932
Rudolf Auerbach dies after 20 years of successfully leading the company through ups and downs. His son Rudi Auerbach, who has been an authorised representative of Gerstner since 1926, becomes his successor. Rudi Auerbach is married to Anneliese Fröhling.

At the premises around 1925August Gerstner | At the premises around 1925

1937
The most difficult years of the company history begin after a few years of upswing only. Two years later, Germany and the world are plunged into misery by the Second World War. While Rudi Auerbach fights at the front, Gerstner is led by Rudolf Münstermann, husband of the Gerstner daughter Erika.

1945
Pforzheim is completely destroyed by the bombing of 23 February. The August Gerstner wedding ring factory with its premises in the Calwer Straße is destroyed as well.

1946
Back home from war, Rudi Auerbach starts to rebuild the gutted company immediately. He boosts the production with stainless steel rings and reactivates the company's business contacts all over the world after those had been blocked by the political pressure for years.

1958
“The ring for life”, manufactured by Gerstner from Pforzheim, is a trademark cherished all over the world and Rudi Auerbach’s legacy to the company. He dies at the age of 54, while the company stands in its fullest bloom.

1960
Earlier than planned and still very young, Rudi Auerbach’s nephew – Rudolf Fröhling – joins the company as designated successor after a two-year stay in South America.

1961
Rudi’s widow Anneliese Auerbach, née Fröhling, takes over the excellently positioned company after a short period of transition. Erika Münstermann, the last direct descendant of August Gerstner, supports her.

1962
The festivities for the 100th anniversary take place in nice memory of Rudi Auerbach.

1964
“Two women and a greenhorn” are forming the management team now: The two partners Anneliese Auerbach and Erika Münstermann make Rudolf Fröhling an equal business partner.

1965
After more than one million wedding rings had been produced in the Gerstner premises, the company is given a new name. It is now called “August Gerstner Ringfabrik”.

1985
Glasnost and perestroika initiate the democratic transformation in the Eastern Bloc countries. They lead to the collapse of the Soviet Union and the German reunification. With the newly-formed German states, Gerstner wins a large, new, national market.

1988
Eberhard Auerbach-Fröhling joins the company. His sister Annelie Waldhier-Fröhling follows in 1993.

1992
RTL broadcasts its TV show “Traumhochzeit”. Several years later, the TV channel gains the sponsorship of Gerstner. As of now, the winners exchange Gerstner rings at the altar.

1999
After the death of his aunt Anneliese Auerbach, Rudolf Auerbach-Fröhling remains the sole managing director of the Gerstner Company.

2000
Gerstner is awarded “wedding ring manufacturer of the year” by the German jewellers. And this is not the only time the company receives this title. Until 2013, Gerstner will be awarded this title another 12 times. With great success, Gerstner wedding rings are now also offered in Japan and Australia.

2002
Ines Vuillermin, née Auerbach-Fröhling, joins the company.

2004
Rudolf Auerbach-Fröhling retires from active business together with Heinz Vincon, who has been his authorised representative for many years. The transfer to the new generation is completed. Eberhard Auerbach-Fröhling and Ines Vuillermin become managing directors.Power of attorney is granted to Annelie Waldhier-Fröhling.

2006
Since the eastward expansion of the European Union, Gerstner wedding rings are also well-known in Czech, Moscow and St. Petersburg.

2012
150 Years August Gerstner The anniversary entirely focuses on the theme “150 Years of Emotion”.The family celebrates this unique event together with clients and employees.

2013
Up to now, more than ten million wedding rings have been manufactured at Gerstner, accompanying happy marriages all over the world.