Schmuckmuseum Pforzheim

Current exhibitions

About the museum

Pforzheim has been a center of jewelry and watchmaking since the 18th century, and the roots of the town's jewelry collection go back to the 19th century. It got a museum of its own in 1961 with the opening of the Reuchlinhaus.

The cultural center, named after the humanist Johannes Reuchlin, was designed by Manfred Lehmbruck, son of the sculptor Wilhelm Lehmbruck, in the clean design language of Mies van der Rohe. Four cubic volumes originally housed an art gallery, a library, a local history museum and a ceremonial hall. After the local history museum and the municipal library moved out in the 1980s and 1990s, the building is now shared by the Schmuckmuseum and the Kunstverein (art association). Following a careful conversion by the firm HG Merz, the museum reopened in March 2006 with a much more spacious presentation.

As the only public museum in the world devoted exclusively to jewelry, it shows pieces from Greek and Etruscan antiquity through the Renaissance, Baroque and Art Nouveau to art jewelry since 1960. In addition, there are the Herion ethnographic collection, the Philipp Weber pocket watch collection, an extensive ring collection and a section on the history of Pforzheim's jewelry industry. Three to four special exhibitions are held each year. At the end of August 2026, burglars broke into the museum; following repairs, it has been open again since September 25, 2026.

Highlights

• Jewelry from five millennia, from antiquity to the present
• Important collection of contemporary art jewelry since 1960
• Herion ethnographic jewelry collection
• Philipp Weber pocket watch collection
• Reuchlinhaus by Manfred Lehmbruck (1961)

Permanent exhibitions

• Schmuck aus fünf Jahrtausenden – Collection display ranging from ancient gold jewelry through the Renaissance and Art Nouveau to contemporary art jewelry, complemented by the pocket watch and ring collections.
• Was ist Schmuck? – Collection display redesigned in December 2021 that uses the museum's holdings to explore what makes jewelry jewelry.

Founded

1961

Operated by

Stadt Pforzheim

Admission & discounts

€4.50/€2.50 applies to the permanent exhibition; the "Silver Lining" exhibition series costs €12.50/€10 including the permanent exhibition. Free for daycare groups and school classes from Pforzheim and its twin towns, and with the Museums-PASS-Musées. Payment by cash, debit card (EC) or credit card.

Accessibility

• Partially wheelchair accessible
• Elevator: no information
• Accessible restroom: no information
• Accessible parking: no information
• 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

Largely accessible. Ramp for wheelchairs and strollers from the right side of the café (Dr.-Brandenburg-Straße) around the terrace to the main entrance. The upper floor of the historical collection and the Philipp Weber pocket watch collection can only be reached by stairs. Seating available.

Kids & families

Great for kids & families

• Family tours & workshops
• Hands-on stations
• Stroller-friendly
• Kids’ birthday parties

Children's tour "Schmuckgeschichten" (Jewelry Stories) (ages 6 and up, 45 min.), KinderSchmuckmuseum (children's jewelry museum) with a chest of drawers to discover and try on, jewelry workshop for 6- to 17-year-olds, and family Sundays with the mascot Schmucki. Birthday party "Funkelndes Fest" (Sparkling Celebration) for ages 6 and up (up to 8 children, 2 hrs., Tue–Sat). Ramp for strollers to the entrance; the second floor with the historic collection can be reached only by stairs.

Getting there & parking

Amenities & dining

• Café
• Restaurant

ARTE Ristorante & Café in the Schmuckmuseum (Wed and Sun 10:00–17:00, Thu–Sat 10:00–22:00, summer break in August) with a view of the Stadtgarten.

Events & venue rental

The museum hasn’t published any information on this – please ask the museum directly.

Plan your visit