Wempe celebrates goldsmithing tradition with New ‘au:thentic’ collection

Wempe, known for its timepieces, has increasingly focused on jewelry design since 2007, holding a 50% stake in A.C. Köhler Atelier, a workshop in Schwäbisch Gmünd, Germany.

To further develop its jewelry business, Wempe appointed Patrick Sieroslawski as creative director of Wempe Atelier Jewelry. Sieroslawski, who previously served as a senior designer at Tiffany & Co. and holds a patent for the brand’s Lock collection, returned to Hamburg, where Wempe is headquartered.

The ‘au:thentic’ collection is characterized by its emphasis on the craftsmanship itself, with designs featuring visible cuts that reference the manufacturing process. Sieroslawski, who learned to create jump rings during his apprenticeship 24 years ago, explained, “I wanted to make the craftsmanship itself visible within the design and create a direct connection to the Wempe Atelier.”

This is the first collection Sieroslawski has personally branded. At a launch event in New York on October 27, he stated, “The inspiration for it was my first day at the workbench. The first thing I learned at the goldsmithing bench 24 years ago was how to make jump rings.”

The name ‘au:thentic’ combines the Greek word for genuine with ‘Au,’ the chemical symbol for gold, highlighting authenticity and the use of gold. The collection includes necklaces, bracelets, rings, earrings, and pendants in 18k yellow, white, and rose gold, with some pieces featuring diamonds. Prices range from $2,595 to $28,375.

Kim-Eva Wempe described the collection as a new chapter for the company, emphasizing its blend of heritage and contemporary design. Actress Keke Palmer showcased a custom piece from the collection at the Met Gala in May, a necklace featuring over 1,200 diamonds weighing 211 carats, which took more than 300 hours to craft.

The collection has been released in two phases, with the initial designs focusing on the open-ended spiral of the jump ring and the second phase introducing closed forms. Sieroslawski noted, “In phase one for the bracelets we made a unique mechanism that works super easy. It stacks nicely with everything and it’s also beautiful on its own.”

Wempe plans to release three additional chapters over the next two years, expanding on the collection’s design language with more complex elements. The ‘au:thentic’ collection is available at Wempe showrooms in Germany, Paris, Madrid, and New York.