Fred Wimmer

Fred Wimmer was born in Budapest, Hungary in 1886. As a youth, he studied as a jewelry apprentice. When King Franz Joseph built a new castle for Hungary's 1,000 Jubilee in 1896, the firm Wimmer worked for was asked to furnish the silver and gold flatware for the royal family, and to set with precious stones the ornate decorations of the castle walls. Wimmer went on to work as a jeweler in shops in Budapest and Germany, and in 1907, at the age of 21, he came to the United States and signed on with Tiffany's in New York.

Five months after his arrival, his childhood friend Gizella Klein—she'd grown up a block away—came to New York as well. They were married the day she arrived. In 1910 they moved to Minneapolis with their son Art, where Wimmer worked as an engraver and designer in a jewelry shop. They moved from there to Owatanna, Minnesota, where Wimmer worked for Jostens, the ring and emblematic company that still exists today. Third-generation owners Randy and Brad Wimmer say their grandfather was a gifted designer and engraver of emblems. "That was his forte," Randy says.

Andy, Fred and Art Wimmer in1954

Encouraged by his success at Jostens, Wimmer set out on his own and founded the Fargo Jewelry Manufacturing Co in Fargo, North Dakota. The company specialized in crafting rings, pins, medals, and fraternal emblems, and designed class rings for schools throughout the Dakotas and western Minnesota.

In 1930, Wimmer changed direction, opening a retail shop—called Wimmer's Jewelry—above the Woolworth's on Fargo's Broadway. Besides diamonds and jewelry, the store sold silver, fine gifts, and hearing aids. At the time, you could purchase a diamond from anywhere from $15 to $1,000; a 52-piece silverware set cost $19.95. Wimmer's slogan then was "Walk a Flight and Buy Right"—and you can still find it on the wrapping ribbons at the downtown store.

Andy and Flossie Wimmer

Art Wimmer started working at the store when he was 12. He and his father moved the store to street level at 610 Main in 1939. Art's brother Andy returned to Fargo from California to join the family business in 1947, and the brothers ran the store together after their father's death in 1960.

Art Wimmer died in 1967, and Andy and his wife Florence—Flossie to her friends—became co-owners. And in the 1970s, their sons Randy and Brad took over. They operated a second store briefly at the Valley North shopping center in north Fargo, and moved the downtown business back to the corner of Main and Broadway in 1981. The brothers opened up shop at West Acres mall in 1985. In 1998, the business was renamed Wimmer's Diamonds, demonstrating a commitment to matching customers with the finest diamonds in the world.

Andy Wimmer died in 1992, and Flossie died in 1995. Brad and Randy have committed themselves to keeping Wimmer's tradition of excellence alive. They say their grandfather, father, mother, and uncle always stressed quality over sales volume. Each year one or both of the brothers travel to Antwerp, Belgium—the diamond capital of the world—to personally inspect and buy diamonds.

Brad and Randy Wimmer

Wimmer's Diamonds' commitment to deliver diamonds and jewelry with integrity is built on a lifetime of serving our customers. We welcome you to be a part of our history, too.

Information courtesy of The Forum newspaper ("A Gem of a Success" by Gerry Gilmour, February 6, 1999)