Rozet & Fischmeister’s beautiful jewellery © Stella Poell
Few jewellery houses can claim a history as closely tied to a city as Rozet & Fischmeister. Founded in 1770, the family business has spent more than two and a half centuries creating fine jewellery, silverware and bespoke pieces, earning a place among Vienna’s most established names in goldsmithing.
Its story began in Lyon, France, before becoming part of Austria’s rich tradition of decorative arts. Over the generations, Rozet & Fischmeister has witnessed the changing tastes of European society, from the grandeur of the Habsburg court to the artistic movements that shaped Vienna at the turn of the 20th century.
Today, the house remains a family business, led by Franz Fischmeister in its sixth generation. A trained master goldsmith and gemmologist, he brings an international perspective to the role, having gained experience at Asprey and Cartier in London. His approach respects the techniques and knowledge passed down through his family while embracing new technology and a more modern style of jewellery design.
“I am immensely proud of our heritage and strive to honour its high standards through a contemporary design language,” he explains. “My great-grandfather worked at Lalique in Paris during the great era of Art Nouveau, and that legacy continues to inspire me in my daily work and in the creation of jewellery.” For Franz, however, the family’s history is more than something to preserve—it’s a foundation for building the future.
The house’s past includes some remarkable commissions: members of the Habsburg family were among its clients, while Archduke Karl received an Old Viennese tea service crafted by Rozet & Fischmeister. Perhaps its best-known creation is the elaborate Collier de Chien, the richly decorated necklace depicted around Adele Bloch-Bauer’s neck in Gustav Klimt’s celebrated 1907 portrait.
The company’s history reaches beyond jewellery, too. Franz Fischmeister’s grandfather, a close friend of Austrian statesman Leopold Figl, created the seal used for the signing of the Austrian State Treaty in 1955, a defining moment in the country’s post-war history. According to the family’s account, the seal was completed in just four days.
These connections reflect the role Rozet & Fischmeister has played in Austrian cultural life, both through the objects it has created and the people who have commissioned them. Over the centuries, the family also helped introduce new artistic influences to Vienna. Its members travelled through Paris and other European cities, returning with materials, techniques and ideas that contributed to the development of local craftsmanship.
“My ancestors travelled extensively throughout Paris and across Europe, bringing the latest developments back to Vienna—from pearls to crystal buttons and much more,” says Franz. “In doing so, they played an important role in shaping Vienna’s design language.”
That same interest in exploring new possibilities continues to inform the business today. Although the house is rooted in traditional Viennese goldsmithing, Franz takes a modern approach to the design process. Alongside established techniques, he works with computer-aided design, digital modelling and 3D technology, allowing him to develop ideas with a high degree of precision before they are brought to life in precious metals and gemstones.
“My design language is rooted in reinterpreting traditional craftsmanship. At the same time, I work extensively with digital design and create my own 3D models. For me, innovation and tradition are not opposites; they belong together.”
This combination of handcraft and technology is central to the jewellery created under his name. Rather than reproducing historical styles, Franz draws on the skills and principles behind them to create pieces that suit contemporary tastes.
Materials play an equally crucial role. Diamonds, rubies, sapphires, emeralds and tourmalines feature alongside citrines, smoky quartz and other carefully selected gemstones. Each brings its own colour, texture and character to the finished design.
The house’s collections reflect this variety. Alongside classic diamond jewellery are colourful gemstone rings, earrings, pendants, brooches and cufflinks. Some pieces take a more traditional approach, while others experiment with unusual shapes, combinations of stones and playful details. The common thread is an emphasis on quality, craftsmanship and jewellery designed to be worn and enjoyed for years to come.
Personal commissions are another essential part of the business. Rozet & Fischmeister creates individual pieces and bespoke designs, giving clients the opportunity to commission jewellery according to their own ideas and preferences. The company’s expertise also extends to restoration, repairs, alterations and engraving, continuing the longstanding relationship between the jeweller and the objects entrusted to its care.
Over and above its in-house creations, Rozet & Fischmeister is known for its carefully curated selection of vintage and antique jewellery. Franz has developed particular expertise in this area, offering pieces that represent different periods, styles and approaches to jewellery making.
The mix of new and historic jewellery suits a business with such a long history. Antique pieces offer a glimpse into the design and craftsmanship of earlier generations, while contemporary creations show how those skills continue to develop.
It also reflects a growing interest in longevity and responsible use of materials. Rather than focusing solely on new production, the house places value on jewellery that can be preserved, restored and passed on. “Sustainability is an important part of how we work. We use 98% recycled gold and also offer a carefully curated selection of vintage and antique jewellery,” Franz explains.
The physical home of Rozet & Fischmeister is another important part of its identity. Located at Kohlmarkt 11, in the heart of Vienna’s historic first district, the shop stands among the elegant buildings and luxury boutiques of one of the city’s best-known shopping streets.
Its interior, with historic rosewood panelling created by the Viennese design firm Portois & Fix, recalls the atmosphere of an imperial treasury. The richly detailed setting has been preserved, offering a connection to the building’s past while providing a home for the house’s contemporary collections.
It is a fitting setting for a business that has maintained its identity through more than 250 years of changing fashions, social customs and approaches to design. Today, its pieces can also be explored and purchased online, allowing the family business to reach customers well beyond Vienna.
Yet despite the changes over six generations, the principles behind Rozet & Fischmeister remain much the same. Careful craftsmanship, a strong understanding of materials and attention to detail continue to guide its work, whether restoring an antique piece or developing an entirely new design.
Franz often returns to a quotation by Goethe when discussing the responsibility that comes with inheriting a family business: “What you have inherited from your fathers, earn it in order to possess it. For me, that means never standing still,” he says.
It is a philosophy that has helped Rozet & Fischmeister remain relevant for more than two centuries. Its history is impressive, but what defines the house today is its willingness to keep learning, designing and adapting, ensuring that the craft passed down through generations continues to have a place in modern life.
Franz Fischmeister © Amir Ghffari
To find out more about Rozet & Fischmeister and its collections, visit the links below…
Rozet & Fischmeister
Kohlmarkt 11
1010 Vienna
Austria
Web: rozetundfischmeister.at
Tel: +43 1 533 80 61
Email: office@rozetundfischmeister.at
Instagram: @rozetfischmeister