History

A Master Watchmaker

The Ryndam (Holland-America Line).

June 22, 1955. Late at night, the Holland American Liner, the RYNDAM docked in Québec city, not very far from the CHATEAU FRONTENAC.

The following morning, June 23 1955, among those travelers returning home and immigrants about to discover North America, Joseph Zimmermann, 29 years of age, his wife Raymond Raimbault 23, their two eldest children Michel almost 2 and Marc 8 months set foot on North American soil.

On September 20, 1952,Raymonde Raimbault, of French origin, native of Berry, daughter of Constant Raimbault, château gardener for the Count Jean de Rancourt de Mimérand had married Joseph Zimmermann, French watchmaker, born in Lorraine. At the time, Joseph Zimmermann had been working for Cartier in London.

Joseph Zimmermann.

On September 17, 1957,after a short stint at Oméga in Québec city, working in difficult conditions, Joseph set up his own business. In the living room window of his semi-basement flat, situated at 387, 25e rue, in Limoilou, he placed a white sign on which appeared in black lettering the following: FRENCH WATCHMAKER, meticulous work.

March 27, 1956, Raymonde gave birth to Monique, and Eric would follow on January 24, 1962. Nevertheless, on July 2, 1963, Raymonde was to find the stamina to open the 1st watchmaker and jewelry shop in Les Galeries St-Jean  in Old Québec. From a first trip to Paris, she would return with medals, chains, wedding bands, broaches in 18ct gold or in silver. All these items having been put forward to her by the finest French makers.

Tremendous respect for their customers,  respect for quality watches, clocks and jewelry, pride in work well done, were constantly and foremost in their minds.

In 1968 Joseph Zimmermann received the title of Meilleur Ouvrier de France (Best Worker of France). He received this honor for the crafting by hand of a considerable number of parts for a pocket-watch. The Association of the Best Workers of France is comprised of hundreds of different trades.

Three Generations

It was in 1971 that Raymonde suggested to my brother and me an apprenticeship in France. My brother would apprentice in watch-making in Besançon, whereas I would apprentice in precious metal jewelry and in precious stone jewelry in Paris.

At 18 years old, the very idea of learning the craft of jewelry making, of living in Paris, the city of light, was most seductive. While my parents gave me the sense of work well done and honor for the given word, it is in Paris  that I would  cultivate my mind and my tastes.

For the next 7 years, from 1971 to 1978, I visited museums both of greater and lesser importance, exhibitions, churches, cathedrals, libraries, antique dealers, auctioneers, public sites and monuments.

In Paris, I would understand that in all trades, thought and imagination and the design itself must precede the work per se. It also became obvious to me that by separating the terms arts, trades and crafts into distinct linguistic appellations, a pleonasm of sorts had been created.

Joseph, our 'founding father', has been plying his trade as a clockmaker for more than 56 years. He still receives his clients at 46, Côte de la Fabrique.

Back in Québec in 1978, I decided to handcraft all of my jewelry, not once resorting to casting techniques of any kind. The general catalogue for the Zimmermann jewelry shop now holds hundreds of models for reference, in addition to thousands of others of all the jewelry made at the workshop situated at 46 Côte de la Fabrique in Québec city.

In 1990, the Zimmermann jewelry shop finally set down its roots at 46 Côte de la Fabrique, opposite the Québec city-hall. My two sons, Vincent born in Paris on October 23, 1977 and Pierre, born in Québec on April 21, 1980, joined the family business respectively in 1997 and 1999. They too, make jewelry that is solely handcrafted. I wish  them, pride in work well done, pleasure in what is beautiful and a sense for creation.

Three generations of Zimmermanns at the Bijouterie Zimmerman (Zimmermann jewelry store) are now pursuing that tradition of quality in the making and selling of precious stone jewelry and precious metal jewelry, always entirely handcrafted.

From left to right : Pierre, Joseph, Vincent and Michel.

With the launching of this Internet site, the Bijouterie Zimmermann now has a window onto the whole world. A new business card in color, new windows with panes of frosted class, a new sign on the façade of Côte de la Fabrique, the home page for our Internet site, all exhibit the designs of lotus flowers and the fleurs de lys. These two flowers respectively symbolize my apprenticeship in Paris and my love for Québec