A 4TH GENERATION FAMILY BUISNESS
Hartgers Jewelers has roots that trace back to Amsterdam, Holland, where Herman Hartgers began his professional career in 1880 as a diamond setter. Herman Hartgers immgrated to the States in 1888 and settled in with his family in Hoboken. He sold Diamonds at the Bowery in N.Y.C. after working on a shipyard during the war. He had been too young to enlist in the army.
Later Herman's son Martin Hartgers, would sell diamonds togther. It was a "dog eat dog" world and the competition, fierce. Martin eventually started a life of his own, though still working in the Bowery, he lacked a passion for the buisness. Still he found it a good way to make a living.
AMSTERDAM TO NEW YORK
Martin soon brought his son Robert Hartgers, who we all know as Sr. Hartgers into the business when he was just 19 years old. Martin worked with his father at his nine-foot showcase at the New York Diamond Exchange. Robert commuted by bus, train, ferry boat, train and two more buses to get to work each morning. His father taught him all he knew about buying diamonds. There was no price on diamonds at that time. The Genealogical Institute of America did not exist, which meant no certification of Diamonds. Together they bought thousands of diamonds. Robert enjoyed the business immensely. His father always played the game safe, only buying diamonds he knew we could sell. Though Robert performed differently. He owed a lot of money that angered is father greatly. Robert said, "If you want to be successful, you have to purchase merchandise, and a lot of it." One day Martin was so upset that Robert told his father to go home and to let him work in the Bowery by day and at night they would do business together.
The Night business operated in the basement of Martin's home in Hawthorne. It worked like a doctors office in that one had to make an appointment to see a diamond, engagement and wedding rings. Robert always carried a gun because he afraid of hold up, and rightfully so. After Martin left the "day shift," the Bowery was still the place to be. Robert hired a twenty-three year old local boy just outside of High School named Bobby Satin to give him a hand. Bobby grew up in Brooklyn, where his parents owned an egg store. As tall as Robert was, Bobby was short. He had beautiful eyes and was a tremendous salesman. He learned the business fast and the two became a great team. When Jack and David Joined the business after graduating from College, and Bobby Satin left the business, Robert felt it was time for a change. There were also two more boys to potentially come to work for him, which was of course anticipated at that point.
The legacy of Hartgers Jewelers really started to transform when Hartgers Jewelers left The Bowery and the New York Diamond Exchange. Alicia, Roberts wife, wanted to transform an elegant, renovated farmhouse, situated on Wyckoff, Avenue in Wyckoff, New Jersey for the new shop location. After making the decision to close the doors on Canal Street in the 1970’s, Robert Hartgers, Sr., alongside his four sons; Jack, David, Robert, Jr., and Gregg, the once meager farmhouse became the building and business that thrives and exists today.
Designed by highly talented artichitect and artist, Fritz Kreiger, this building houses one of the largest high-end retailers of watches in the Tri-State area. They also do an unusually robust business in diamonds and semi-precious stones, as well. Hartgers has become a tradition.
NEW BEGINNINGS
FOUR SONS,
FOUR BROTHERS
Each son has their niche within the buisness, which has allowed it to be as successful as it is and grow inrecognition over the years.
The Hartgers family is known for both their incredible knowledge base of the jewelry business itself and their unswerving confidence in the product that they proudly sell to the public. The customer can trust that they are being sold a quality product at a very fair price.
There is no doubt that when you walk out of Hartgers Jewelers, with their signature blue box, that you have true value in what you have purchased for years to come.
Not just value, but sentimental value. Hartgers is a truly wonderful family experience.
GIVING BACK
Hartgers Jewelers has a rich tradition of giving and incredible history of philanthropy, which has endured throughout all the years they have been in business. They are actively involved with raising funds for many charitable organizations.
Some of these are; Oasis, Ironmatt, Grace United Methodist Church in Wyckoff, NJ, Most Blessed Sacrament in Franklin Lakes, NJ, Franklin Lakes Ambulance Corps and Recreation Department, Franklin Lakes Education Foundation, The Wyckoff YMCA, The Summit Speech School, The Jewish Standard, The Saddle River and Ridgewood Junior Women’s Clubs, and many, many more.
