CHRIST can look back on a long tradition with roots that reach all the way back to 1863. The name of CHRIST has always represented top quality, excellent service, and special jewellery ideas.
1863
Wilhelm Alexander Christ, the last watchmaker to be licensed by the Free Imperial City, founds a jewellery and chronometer trade in the Goethe city of Frankfurt am Main on 25 October.
1874
In 1874, CHRIST moves into the half-timbered “Carlseck” building on the corner of Weißadlergasse and Kleiner Hirschgraben that is to become the company’s headquarters.
1944
The CHRIST headquarters are razed to the ground in war.
1945
Repair receipts from 1946
In spite of the hard times, grandson Friedrich Wilhelm Christ quickly continues the successes of the past. Only six years later, he once again has a large, representative store on Rossmarkt in the heart of Frankfurt.
1945-1994
CHRIST is becoming known as a top jeweller, making no. 1 in the craft in Germany in 1994 at sales exceeding DM 600 million and a headcount of 2,400 employees.
1995
Following a series of owner changes, DOUGLAS HOLDING AG, already successful in the jewellery sector at the time with the Juwelier WEISS specialist stores, acquires a stake in CHRIST in 1995.
1997
DOUGLAS HOLDING AG takes over CHRIST entirely in 1997. The headquarters are relocated to Hagen. The Juwelier WEISS stores are gradually renamed Juwelier CHRIST stores.
2010
Facing increasing digitalisation and the new demands posed to retail, CHRIST opens its first online shop at www.christ.de in 2010. CHRIST is now available to its customers around the clock.
2013
CHRIST celebrates the company’s 150th anniversary with an entire year of “Moments of Happiness since 1863”, brimming with special promotions, unique experiences, and plenty of excitement.
2014
The many years as part of DOUGLAS HOLDING come to an end, and CHRIST opens a new chapter as it is taken over by private equity investor 3i.
2019
CHRIST takes over VALMANO to further expand its trend and lifestyle segment while also targeting international markets. VALMANO France is subsequently launched in November 2019, followed by market entries in the Netherlands, Belgium, and Sweden.
2019/ 2020
CHRIST expands its position on the premium market. The BRINCKMANN & LANGE retail brand has been revived and gradually developed since. The first BRINCKMANN & LANGE flagship boutique is scheduled to open in Leipzig in October 2020.