jewellery museum Pforzheim

The Schmuckmuseum Pforzheim sits in the Reuchlinhaus, a building designed for art. It holds thousands of jewellery pieces spanning five thousand years, from prehistoric times to today. The museum grew from collections started in the 19th century and now shows rings, watches and ethnographic pieces. Its strongest areas are Greek, Etruscan, Roman, Renaissance and Art Nouveau jewellery. The ring collection is especially large, and the contemporary jewellery section is rare. A display also tells how Pforzheim became Germany’s jewellery and watchmaking centre. Ernst Wagner, a local bank director, helped found a society to support the museum. Visitors find rooms filled with delicate gold work and carved stones. Temporary exhibitions explore themes in jewellery and goldsmithing from different eras. Outside the displays, the building itself reflects the city’s art and craft traditions.