Founding of J. Hettich & Sons

Edwin Wyndham Hettich, the founder of Hettich, was born in Cardiff in 1879.  He was the son of Julius Hettich, a German clock maker and jeweller.  He was educated in Wales, then sent to Germany to learn the fundamentals of watch-making before joining his father's business in Cardiff at the age of 14.

His father heard of an opportunity in Jersey and in 1900 bought premises at 1 King Street, the home of Hettich to this day.  Julius decided to stay in Cardiff and Edwin, at 21, took on the shop.  In the same year that the Opera House opened its doors, J. Hettich & Sons began trading as a jewellers, opticians and later radio repairers.

Read More - The Early Days