Ahead of the Curve: How Gesswein Blends Legacy, Innovation, and Hands-On Support for Jewelers

By Courtney Gray — The Jeweler’s View

If you’ve been at a bench for any length of time, you’ve run into the name Gesswein. Since 1914, they’ve been the steady heartbeat of our industry, quietly putting the right tools, technology, and training in the hands of jewelers and manufacturers worldwide.

After sitting down with Roger Gesswein III on The Jeweler’s View, I walked away feeling what many of you already know: staying relevant isn’t about chasing every new machine. It’s about values, people, and using innovation to protect the craft we love.

🎥 Watch the full interview here: Gesswein Spotlight Episode

A Family Business That Still Feels Human

Roger’s earliest memories aren’t boardrooms or budgets, they’re summers in Bridgeport, running the halls, meeting the people who have kept this company thriving across four generations.

“If I could surprise my dad with the job we’ve done, that would be the most meaningful thing.” - Roger Gesswein

That legacy of stewardship shows up in real ways: answering phones, showing up at trade shows, training teams, and building long-term relationships instead of chasing one-time transactions.

Partner, Not Just Supplier

Plenty of companies sell equipment. Fewer stand beside you to choose the right machine, install it, and train your team, whether you’re a one-bench studio, a multi-store retailer, or a manufacturer running a full production line.

One story Roger shared stuck with me:

A high-end manufacturer brought in electropolishing not to replace people but to free them. The repetitive finishing work moved to the machine; the polishers moved up, learning stone setting, designing, higher-value tasks.

That’s the kind of innovation I care about: tech that gives craftspeople more time to do what they do best.

What Partnership Looks Like in Practice

• Guidance on selecting and integrating tools, from micro-motors to laser systems

• On-site installs, shop layouts, and training so the investment pays off

• Real people for real questions, no maze of robots when something breaks

• A mindset of process fit over chasing trends

Try It, Touch It, Learn It

If you’ve been to Gesswein’s booth at a trade show, you know: the gear isn’t there to be admired from a distance. It’s running, laser welders, tumblers, stone-setting demos, electropolishing equipment.

You can ask, try, and see how it fits your workflow and work space before you ever invest.

Better decisions today mean fewer regrets tomorrow.

Electropolishing, Explained Simply

Think plating in reverse. Instead of adding metal, you’re removing it evenly, making it easier to finish complex geometries and under-galleries without hours of hand work. It’s stone-safe, non-hazardous, and scales from small machines handling 14 pieces to large systems for full production.

Read the full article: Understanding Electropolishing for Jewelers

Check out the Demo- Electropolishing explained

Why it matters:

• Time back: move repetitive work off the bench

• Consistency: fewer headaches with hard-to-reach areas

• Upskilling: let people focus on high-value work, not cleanup

Build Inside Your Walls

Retailers and small manufacturers are now internalizing work they used to outsource, casting, finishing, even platinum.

It’s not just about margins. It’s about:

• Quality control

• Turnaround speed

• Personalization

• A better experience for your customers

Sometimes all it takes is 400 square feet, a small 3D printer, thoughtful workflow, and training. Suddenly three-week jobs become three-day jobs.

That’s customer service at work.

Voting with Your Dollar

Roger said it best:

“Choose your suppliers based on values. Hire good people and overpay for talent, you won’t regret it.”

In this industry, voting with your dollar is real. Every purchase funds the ecosystem you want to keep, education, service, community, and innovation that lasts.

Trade Shows Aren’t Dead—They’re Community

Nothing replaces a real conversation over a running machine. People want to learn together, compare notes, and make decisions they won’t second-guess.

That’s why Gesswein keeps showing up—because the work is still human, and community still matters.

What Staying Relevant Really Means

Everyone’s chasing the future, metal printing, faster turnarounds, smarter processes. Roger’s take is refreshingly grounded:

Staying relevant isn’t a stunt. It’s a cycle: listen, test, implement, train, iterate.

Slow is smooth; smooth is fast.

Where to Explore

Visit Gesswein for tools, training, and resources. Watch demos on Gesswein YouTube. Read more about Electropolishing for Jewelers. Find them at major trade shows and see the machines in action before you invest.

Final Thought

Legacy only matters if it serves the people doing the work today. Tools and technology can speed things up. Training builds confidence. But it’s the values and partnerships behind those tools that shape the future of this industry.

Whether you’re running a retail store, managing a manufacturing floor, or working at a single bench, every purchase you make sends a signal. You’re voting from the bench with every dollar you spend.

Choose suppliers and partners who show up, who train, who support you long after the sale. When you invest in companies that invest in the people, the process, and the craft itself, you help build the industry you want to be part of one with stronger skills, smarter technology, and real human connection.

Onward and upward.