Studer & Hänni AG

Studer & Hänni AG is a watch and jewelry retailer in eastern Switzerland with three shops: on Marktgasse in St. Gallen, in the Rheinpark shopping center in St. Margrethen, and on Hauptgasse in Appenzell. Its site's banner reads "Kompetenz und Tradition seit 1937" (expertise and tradition since 1937). For couples, the relevant part is its partnership with the ring manufacturer Meister, whose wedding rings the shop presents on a dedicated page.

Meister wedding rings

The wedding ring page is short. It introduces "die exklusive Kollektion von Trauringen und Schmuckstücken unseres Partners MEISTER" (the exclusive collection of wedding rings and jewelry from our partner MEISTER). The homepage describes Meister as one of the leading wedding ring and jewelry manufactures in Europe.

According to the page, Meister combines traditional craftsmanship with contemporary design and places great importance on sustainability. The key sentence for couples who care about sourcing is this one: "Jedes Schmuckstück wird aus recycelten Edelmetallen und konfliktfreien Diamanten gefertigt" (every piece of jewelry is made from recycled precious metals and conflict-free diamonds). The page promises designs that are both modern and timeless, shaped by a deep-rooted tradition of quality, and invites couples to find the perfect ring for their special moment.

What the page does not do is show the rings themselves, list models or give prices. Studer & Hänni is a stockist of Meister's collection rather than the maker, and a couple will need to visit a shop or call to see the designs and get a quote.

A watch business first

The online shop is built around watches, and the homepage says so plainly: it offers a large selection of women's and men's watches from different brands at attractive prices. The brand menu lists Aerowatch, Balmain, Casio, Certina, Fossil, Hamilton, Jowissa, Longines, Luminox, Maurice Lacroix, Mondaine, Rado, Swiss Military Hanowa, Tissot, Victorinox and Wenger, and there is a pre-owned certified section. Homepage offers range from a Tissot PRX at CHF 365 to a Rado Captain Cook at CHF 3,550.

The practical benefit for a couple is that one shop can handle both wedding rings and a watch as a wedding gift. The online shop lists free delivery, payment on invoice, installment payment up to CHF 5,000 and a right of return, although the site presents these for the watch shop and does not say whether they apply to Meister rings.

The watch workshop is a real part of the business. The service page says "Wir reparieren jede Marke!" (we repair every brand), whether the watch was bought at Studer & Hänni or elsewhere. The workshop covers everything from wristwatches to alarm clocks and antique wall clocks. Customers get a binding cost and time estimate before work begins, and repairs are done partly in the shop's own watch workshop and partly by the manufacturer.

The three shops

St. Gallen. Marktgasse 16, 9000 St. Gallen, open Monday to Friday 09.00 to 18.30 and Saturday 09.00 to 17.00. The branch page describes the window displays at number 16 as a small oasis on the busy market square, and says the shop has "genau das Ambiente und die Grösse, um sich darin wohlzufühlen" (just the ambiance and size to feel at ease in). Jewelry and watches are shown in bright display cases rather than hidden in drawers, and customers are invited to try pieces on.

Rheinpark, St. Margrethen. Studer & Hänni has been in the Rheinpark shopping center since 2005, and since 2009 on 70 m2 on the ground floor, on the direct route to the Migros supermarket. The shop has an open front without doors and large display cases showing the whole jewelry and watch range. The branch page describes the center itself as rebuilt over two years and reopened in 2009, with specialist shops, restaurants and a children's play area on two levels, so a ring appointment there can be combined with other errands. It is open Monday to Thursday 09.00 to 19.00 and Friday 09.00 to 20.00. Phone +41 71 744 48 24.

Appenzell. Hauptgasse 25, 9050 Appenzell, opened in 2015 and the youngest of the three. Besides watches and jewelry in gold, silver and stainless steel, it carries pocket watches and traditional Appenzell jewelry, including "Kühli" rings, edelweiss jewelry in gold and silver and cow earrings. It is closed on Monday and open Tuesday to Friday 08.45 to 12.00 and 13.00 to 18.30. Phone +41 71 787 21 33. For a couple with a taste for Swiss folk motifs, that range could suit gifts for the wedding party.

The main phone number on the site is +41 71 223 57 23 and the email is info@studerhaenni.ch. The contact page has a form and invites customers to call the staff in any of the three branches for advice.

Advice by phone or in person

The header of every page promises "Telefonische oder persönliche Beratung vor und nach dem Kauf" (advice by phone or in person, before and after the purchase). For a couple outside the region, a phone call is the natural first step to find out which Meister models a branch has in stock.

What the site leaves open

• Which rings are in stock. The Meister page shows no models, and it does not say which branch carries the collection or how much of it.
• Prices. No wedding ring prices are published.
• Lead times. Nothing on how long it takes to order a Meister ring in a particular size or metal.
• Language. The site is in German only and does not mention English service.
• Saturday hours. The site lists Saturday hours for St. Gallen only.

Who it suits

Studer & Hänni suits couples in eastern Switzerland, in or around St. Gallen, St. Margrethen or Appenzell, who want to buy Meister wedding rings from a long-established local retailer with several shops, and perhaps a watch at the same time. The recycled metals and conflict-free diamonds stated on the Meister page will appeal to couples who want that assurance in writing.

It is less suited to couples looking for rings designed and made by the shop itself, since the wedding offer is the partner collection, or to couples who want to browse rings and prices online before making contact.