Industriedenkmal Jakob Bengel Bijouteriewarenfabrik

About the museum

The Jakob Bengel company was founded in 1873 as a watch-chain factory and, during the heyday of the Oberstein costume jewelry industry, grew into a business with worldwide sales. Later, costume jewelry items were added; Bengel became especially well known for Art Deco jewelry of chromed metal and galalith from the 1920s and 1930s, which was exported mainly to France. From 1954 onward, anodized aluminum products shaped the range.

When the market collapsed from 1993 onward, buildings, machines, tools, and sample stocks threatened to be lost. In 2001, the Jakob Bengel Foundation was therefore established as the custodian of today’s industrial monument. The building ensemble is largely preserved in its original state: the factory from 1873 with its chimney and an extension from 1932, workers’ housing from the late 19th century, and the industrialist’s villa in the Art Nouveau style.

During the tour, visitors see about 40 fully working chain-making machines, drawing benches, rollers, and spindle presses, and learn how wire becomes a chain. In the Villa Bengel, a center for contemporary jewelry design shows changing exhibitions. The historic garden, reconstructed in 2024, is free to visit during opening hours.

Highlights

• About 40 fully working chain-making machines in the historic factory
• Guided tour of jewelry production from 1870 to 1990
• Art Deco jewelry from the 1920s and 1930s
• Art Nouveau villa with contemporary jewelry design
• Reconstructed historic garden

Permanent exhibitions

• Industriedenkmal: Fabrik, Maschinen und Sozialgeschichte – Guided tour of the original factory with working chain-making machines and the history of costume jewelry production from 1870 to 1990.
• Art-déco-Schmuck von Jakob Bengel – Jewelry from the 1920s and 1930s made of chromed metal and galalith, which made the company world-famous.

Founded

1873

Operated by

Jakob Bengel-Stiftung

Admission & discounts

All prices are per person and include the guided tour, the permanent exhibition, and the special exhibition. Free admission for members of the Freundeskreis Jakob Bengel Denkmal e. V. and for members of the foundation’s board of trustees (Kuratorium). The historic garden is free to visit during opening hours.

Accessibility

• Partially wheelchair accessible
• Elevator: no information
• Accessible restroom
• Accessible parking
• Service dogs welcome: no information
• Tactile models & exhibits: no information
• Sign language tours: no information
• Easy-to-read materials: no information
• Audio description: no information

Because of the listed architecture, accessibility is limited: wheelchair-accessible access to the rooms on the raised ground floor, including the museum shop and the permanent exhibition, where a video tour through the production halls is shown. Accessible toilet next to the main entrance; parking in the courtyard by prior arrangement.

Kids & families

• Family tours & workshops
• Hands-on stations

The museum sees itself as a living house that invites hands-on exploration. School classes can design their own chain with a pendant in the workshop (groups of up to 15 students). Family ticket for 2 adults with children.

Getting there & parking

By car in the Oberstein district on the B41 (Nahehochstraße) to the Stadttheater exit, then onto Wilhelmstraße; the industrial monument is about 100 meters along on the left. From the Idar-Oberstein tourist information or the Museum Idar-Oberstein, it is about 5 minutes on foot.

Amenities & dining

• Museum shop

Museum shop with historic jewelry from Oberstein companies from the 1960s to the 1980s, plus books and exhibition catalogs on jewelry and jewelry design.

Events & venue rental

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Plan your visit