Au Bijou

Au Bijou is a watch and jewelry shop in Basel, trading as Au Bijou GmbH Uhren & Schmuck at Rüdengasse 3, opposite the old main post office on Freie Strasse. Wedding rings are one of its main lines, and the shop's wedding ring page calls it "Nr 1 für Trauringe in Basel" (number one for wedding rings in Basel) and says it shows one of the largest selections of quality wedding rings in Switzerland. The rest of the business is a classic town jeweler: watches, jewelry, repairs, battery changes, ear and nose piercing, ring engraving, and the buying of used jewelry and watches.

The wedding ring offer

The headline figure is over 500 partner rings to see and try in the shop. The page lists plain rings and rings with diamonds, in apricot, yellow, red or white gold, in palladium, platinum or a combination, with polished or matte surfaces and with or without decoration. Elsewhere it describes the finishes in more detail: high polish, matte, diamond-cut, brushed or ice-matte, and a choice of alloys in apricot, caramel, yellow, gray, red and white, with black now possible in carbon. For apricot, yellow and white gold, the page names 9, 14 or 18 karat versions.

The rings come from specialist makers, and the page names two. The Bayer Trauringmanufaktur is presented as known for unusual designs and surface structures. The family firm Fischer, which the page says was founded in 1919 and is run today by its fourth and fifth generations, works gold, palladium, platinum and diamonds into modern or classic wedding rings using hand work and laser technology, and makes special pieces to order. Au Bijou also stocks classic partner rings in gold and silver.

Every ring can carry a personal engraving, such as the wedding date, names or a message.

Configuring and ordering

The page offers a 3D online ring configurator in which a couple can change materials, surfaces, widths and diamond settings and see the result in real time. The shop is clear about its role: the configurator is for inspiration and preparation, and the final choice and order always happen in a consultation in the shop. There, the staff help with material, ring size and design and refine the online design with comfort and everyday wear in mind. The page points out that bicolor and tricolor rings are popular choices.

Lead times. The page gives slightly different figures in different places. The made-to-measure rings take between 2 and 4 weeks depending on the model, white gold rings about 3 to 4 weeks, and the FAQ says production usually takes 3 to 4 weeks, with custom rings and special stones taking longer. The shop recommends choosing the rings about 2 to 3 months before the wedding to leave time for adjustments.

Prices. The site does not put prices on its wedding rings. A note on the page says that because wedding rings are chosen and made individually, prices and delivery times are discussed openly in the consultation. The FAQ does give one benchmark: a 1 carat diamond ring set in 18 karat yellow gold costs "etwa CHF 9 bis 10’000.-" (roughly 9 to 10 thousand francs), depending on size, material and stone quality, and a separate solitaire configurator shows the price of a design as you build it.

Visiting the shop

Au Bijou's distinctive policy is that it works deliberately without fixed appointments, so a couple can simply drop in: "Kein Termin nötig" (no appointment needed). For those who prefer to plan, the page also has a link to request a consultation appointment. A consultation carries no obligation, and ring sizing in the shop is free, which the page recommends over measuring at home because fingers change during the day.

The address is Rüdengasse 3, 4001 Basel. The phone number is 061 262 02 42, and the page also offers contact by SMS, Threema and WhatsApp, plus a contact form. The opening hours listed on the page are Monday 13:00 to 18:30, Tuesday to Friday 09:00 to 12:30, and Saturday 09:00 to 17:00, with earlier closing at 16:00 before public holidays. Since unannounced visits are the norm, it is worth checking the current hours before a special trip.

Sustainability and sourcing

The sustainability section refers to environmentally friendly recycling processes in production and certified diamonds, and says that the fine metals used in the wedding rings are sourced locally from recycled secondary material. In the FAQ, Au Bijou says it works only with renowned partners who assure it that their diamonds meet the criteria of the Kimberley Process.

For couples from abroad

The site is in German only. One Google review shown on the page, from a watch collector, says: "Since I do not speak German, he kindly assists me in English, which he speaks fluently," referring to a staff member named Patrik. That review is about watches, not wedding rings, but it shows that at least one member of the team serves customers in English.

What the site does not settle:

• Whether rings can be ordered and delivered without a second visit, for a couple who can only come to Basel once.
• Prices for the wedding rings themselves, beyond the diamond ring benchmark.
• Which of the 500 rings are in stock to take home and which are made to order.

Who it suits

Au Bijou suits couples who want to see and try a large range before deciding, like the freedom to drop in without booking, and value a straightforward shop over a design studio. The configurator lets a couple from abroad prepare at home and arrive with a shortlist. Named makers with clear production times help with planning.

The caveats: the page credits named manufacturers such as Bayer and Fischer with the rings, so this is the place for choosing from a very wide range rather than commissioning a one-off from the person serving you. The site is German-only, and wedding ring prices are only given in person. And a couple should allow the 3 to 4 weeks of production plus the buffer the shop itself recommends.