Fourth Generation - Bernhard Schütz: New Horizons

In 1984 Bernhard Schütz, Hermann’s oldest son, joined the company after being thoroughly trained for the business. After his studies of economics in Pforzheim he spent several years abroad to become fluent in 5 languages.

In 1988 he went to Japan with his wife Birgit to establish the subsidiary “Gathmann Japan” in Tokyo where they spent eight years. With the help of his cousin Alex he built up the Japanese market to one of the important pillars of the company.

As General Manager of the DELAN-Group, a coalition of 20 highclass jewellery manufacturers, Bernhard succeeded in making German jewellery known all over Japan. When he left Japan in 1996 Frank Neuner took over the office and continued the business.

Back to Germany he realizied how important brands had become in the jewelry business. Therefore he started establishing relationships with internationally well known brands such as Thomas Sabo, Pesavento and others.

Günter Roos, working for the company since 1980, successfully opened new doors for Gathmann’s collections in Northern Europe and South Africa.