A Legacy is Born

German silversmith Philip Wolf I created the company in 1834 when he discovered that his silver pieces sold more when presented in beautiful boxes. As he began selling more boxes than silver, he refocused his designs creating sophisticated jewellery cases which not only looked good but protect meaningful treasures, a practice we have perfected along the way.

Having great respect for tradition and family, Philip Wolf I based the design of the family crest on the Hanau coat of arms, a town where he and generations before him had grown up.

Years later WOLF would use parts of the seal in an exclusive collection that was made in Spain and bore the name “WOLF 1834”.

The only image of the workshop and home of Philip Wolf I is in this painting. Hanau was in large part destroyed by British airstrikes in 1945. Home is where the heart is and certainly this is where the heart and soul of Philip developed and where the WOLF box story began.

A bold move to Sweden

Philip Wolf II was born in 1869, by his mid-teens he was already an accomplished box-maker. Travelling to Sweden one summer he fell in love with the country, immigrating in 1895. In 1910 he married the love of his life, Ida Wilhemina, perhaps the most important person in the history of the Wolf family.

Two Brothers, Two Visions

Philip Wolf III and his brother Ernst took to the business at a very early age. In 1936 and now in his early 20’s Ernst decided to spread his wings to the north and so moved to Stockholm where he started his own specialised box making firm, “Stockholms Etui & Koffertfabrik”. The company continues today having been passed to Ernst’s son, Robert, who works alongside his son, Christopher.

Philip Wolf III – A masterful inventor and businessman

Philip Wolf III designed and developed numerous new production techniques, hinges that would staple through wood and he was the inventor of the music box with turning ballerina.

The end of World War II

Jubilation as the war came to an end but great sadness as Philip Wolf II who had fallen ill with a lung ailment twenty years prior died.

Having lost two of her children to the Spanish flu Ida was left with Philip III and his brother Ernst to care for so without delay she took the reins of the business, overseeing production and sales, travelling great distances through Sweden by rail and horse-drawn carriage. Ida’s sheer will and determination is what kept the WOLF business alive through a most difficult time in history.

“Never stop innovating” words of wisdom from Philip Wolf III

Philip knew that connecting with his customers who stretched the length and breadth of Scandinavia was a top priority, in person was best but how else could he remain top of mind? In 1950 he started a marketing technique still in use today, “WOLF Nyhtererna” - “WOLF News” was a booklet of sorts in which he displayed his new products and ideas. Truly innovative for 1950.

A consummate fisherman and the person who started the Swedish Salmon & Trout Association, Philip Wolf III did some of his greatest thinking standing alone in the fresh running waters of rivers near his home. One day in 1957 he pierced his thumb with a hook. The barb on the hook made it difficult to extract but it gave him an idea for a new type of hinge. A hinge that would be pressed inside a slit cavity of a box, the long axis of the hinge would have “barbs”, like a hook, that would be pressed out from the side of the hinge. Push the hinge in and the barbs would lie flat, try to pull the hinge out and the barbs would catch and press into the walls of the wood slot, fixing them securely inside.

Philip Wolf III was awarded a patent for the design, it expired many years ago but the type of hinge he designed are still used today.

Born in 1936, Philip Wolf IV took immediately to the box business, helping his father as a young boy with making samples and spending time at the factory. His love of aircraft already showing as he spent hours gazing at the aircraft at Sturup airfield. His love of the technical and mechanical fully came to light when he took the reins of the company years later.

By the late 1950's Philip had completed a degree and later in 1960 moved to England after meeting Judie, they married after a week of knowing each other!

Now in UK, Philip IV was given the edict by his father to build a factory and so plans were developed to start box production in Ennis, County Clare, Ireland. The factory was modest, a few small single story buildings and a handful of local people who would make the boxes for WOLF customers. Pictured is Philip Wolf and Bernie Maurer with some of the workers from the factory with their very first order bound for America. Production came to a halt in 1962 as it was decided to build a bigger facility in South Wales.

A great business opportunity presented itself to Philip Wolf IV, to design and build his own factory in UK. The site chosen was Llanelli, South Wales and after a year of planning, ground was broken in early 1967 and the 100,000 sq ft facility was completed in 1968.

1968 WOLF showcased in Selfridges, London

Harry Selfridge opened Selfridges on 15th March 1909, some 59 years later Philip Wolf IV opened what would be considered a “shop in shop” in Selfridges, a major step for the brand.The display included two full windows looking out onto Oxford Street.

35 Old Bond Street office expansion

Having resided in Mayfair for nearly 5 years the West End offices were expanded with a new showroom and more space for sales support staff. Positioned in walking distance from many of WOLF’s customers, H Samuel, Ernest Jones, Green Shield Stamps to name but a few. The building now houses Gucci’s West End flagship store.

WOLF receives Swedish Royal Warrant and to celebrate launches the “Design Philipp” Collection of men’s and ladies jewellery boxes and accessories.

April 9^th 1975 - London

 Iron Lady meets The Gipper

 Former Governor of California Ronald Reagan and Opposition Leader Margaret Thatcher meet and gifts are exchanged. A silver dollar for her and a pair of bear-design silver cufflinks for him. The cufflinks packaged beautifully in a WOLF-made box!

A love of flying high

Philip Wolf's IV's 1941 Beechcraft Staggerwing (reg G-BDGK), rebuilt in 1982. Philip flew his beloved Staggerwing from Biggin Hill with customers and suppliers to the factory in Wales, saving hours of driving on the road

Another milestone achieved

Four generations strong with another soon to join, WOLF celebrates 150 years as a box making family. Never wavering from the edict of Philip Wolf I to ensure “ones prized possessions are stored in a fine quality case".

As leisure and business travel becomes a more frequent part of everyone’s life, Philip perceives a need for a watch roll that is compact, strong and practical. After studying sizes of watches and luggage that people travelled with at the time and many samples and prototypes later, the WOLF tubular constructed watch roll is born and quickly becomes a mainstay of WOLF’s traveling watch-care collection.

Years later this great design would be improved upon by the next generation…..

The 5th generation joins the company

Philip Wolf IV was a great designer and salesman, he was also a wonderful teacher. Taking Simon Philip at 21 years old, under his wing. Pictured here in Malmö on a visit to the Swedish factory. A first step to understanding sample making and factory production.

National Exhibition expansion and WOLF’s largest stand to date

Simon picture between his sister Nina and Father whilst they attended the biggest trade show in UK in the newly expanded luxury brands hall of the NEC.

With the economy and business flourishing in England, the time was right for the Wolf Family to assume the biggest challenge ever undertaken: tackling the USA and Canadian Markets. It was up to Simon Philip Wolf V, with guidance from his father Philip IV, to persevere through difficult challenges and achieve remarkable success.

In good company

WOLF’s Swedish and UK factories were now working with many major watch, jewellery and other brands. Tissot, Zodiac, Citizen, Omega, Certina, even making the coasters for Concorde. Brands that demand quality and great design came to WOLF.

Today WOLF partners with numerous watch and jewellery brands providing them with 100% accurate watch winders and jewellery cases that protect jewellery from tarnishing. Innovating designs and making the impossible, possible.

WOLF’s first stand at the New York Now show. Showcasing the Design Philipp brand for the first time

Dallas, Texas

Philip Wolf IV and V present brand to Bailey Banks and Biddle (part of Zale Corporation) and management agrees to launch WOLF in all stores.

WOLF moves to California in early 90’s and by 1997 has opened prestigious offices overlooking Pacific Coast Highway and Malibu Surfrider Beach. Pictured here is the team in1998.

July 24, Los Angeles Gift Show

WOLF debuts newest collections of leather jewellery boxes, South Molton in red lizard embossed leather becomes the runaway success.

WOLF makes major commitment to Asia Pacific region by opening Hong Kong office, showroom and warehouse.

July

WOLF wins best booth design at the California Gift Show.

WOLF wins Best Design for newly expanded showroom.

Simon Wolf V interview for Los Angeles Times business section

Miami Herald runs story on WOLF entitled “All Wound UP!”

WOLF is awarded utility patent that encompasses “counting turns per day”, becomes the only truly accurate watch winder available.

The opening of the Rock offices, showroom and distribution center

After searching for over a year for the perfect location, WOLF selects “The Rock” for its European headquarters. Southwest of London near to Gatwick and Heathrow airports and in view of The Downs. 

February 21^st  – Hong Kong 

After many years of preparation WOLF is ready to launch in the all-important Asia Pacific region. Mr. Wolf invites select retailers and press to an introductory lunch at the Excelsior Hotel. Unveiling to rave reviews the App controlled 1834 Regent cabinet watch winder collection.

WOLF sponsors Coronation Double Century bike race, Cape Town, South Africa.

WOLF sponsors riding gear for Team-WOLF and a WOLF wrapped chase car.

MY LEGACY

WOLF launches the My Legacy campaign and connects with consumers in a new way by inviting them to share their legacies. The campaign kicked off with ballet dancer Brittany Cavaco and entrepreneur Andrew Waldan.

Cavaco is a ballet dancer who wears her grandmother’s diamond stud earrings to help her feel close to her family as she travels around the world performing in the English Ballet.

Andrew Waldan’s father learned to make watches in a concentration camp during WWII, and Waldan now wears one of these watches which he managed to track down decades later.

The campaign culminates with Simon Wolf, the 5^th generation CEO of WOLF, sharing his own prized legacy: the WOLF brand itself.

BRITISH RACING – A NEW CLASSIC IS BORN

A new Classic Is Born - British Racing launches and quickly takes its place as a classic. After 3 years and many design elevations the collection Simon Wolf envisioned is ready.

British Racing – A truly English collection of watch winders, boxes and watch rolls; perfect for the collector, safekeeper and watch traveller. Featuring an iconic pavilion lid, fluted bezel and patented winder technologies only WOLF can deliver – all in one collection.

Classics are not created, they are born, destined to be one-off’s, different, unique and above all else, timeless. British Racing has, in a very short span of time, become a classic, truly one of a kind.

LOCK-IN DYNAMIC CUFF 

Always leading the way in watch winder innovation. After 14 months of development WOLF launches the Lock-In Dynamic Cuff - one cuff three sizes. Patented by WOLF,this unique cuff design fits any wrist and ensures your watch safely locks into your winder . 

WOLF EXPANDS THEIR GLOBAL TEAM

Supporting a growing business and our customers demands requires a great team. During the last 2 years WOLF has grown by 50% across all departments in the US and UK. From Sales and Marketing to Customer Service and Operations.

WOLF LAUNCHES TWO NEW COLLECTIONS AT PITTI IMMAGINE UOMO 
Pitti Uomo, The bi-annual trade show in Florence, Italy, is one of the world’s most important events for launching new projects in men’s fashion and accessories. WOLF exhibited for the first time in January 2022 and again in June for the launch of our new men’s accessories collections.

W - Essential lifestyle accessories made from sustainably sourced genuine leather.

Signature - The collection is vegan, 95% sustainable and is made from recycled materials including apple pulp and plastic bottles. Inspired by vintage luggage, the collection is made with a fully recycled plastic exterior.

SPONSORSHIP OF HARBOUR CLUB WOMEN’S PADEL TEAM

WOLF is proud to sponsor the Harbour Club Women’s Padel Team for the 2022 season. The Harbour Club are National League Champions and WOLF’s Lisa Phillips, from UK Customer Service, the UK’s No.1 Padel player (LTA rankings), is leading the team. Even Simon Wolf is getting involved…

WOLF JOINS WALPOLE

WOLF joins Walpole, the UK’s invitation only, official trade body for the luxury sector. WOLF will join 250 luxury brands across 11 business sectors including Asprey, Boodles, Chanel, Claridge’s, Rolex and Rolls-Royce. 

WOLF is delighted to be part of Walpole’s sustainability manifesto which brings together eight sector specific working groups to focus on accelerating change in packaging, supply chain, carbon emission reduction and social impact for the luxury sector in the UK.

WOLF LAUNCHES LUXURY ACCESSORIES COLLECTION

The Mimi Collection. Mimi is for the woman on the go who needs her essentials close but wants to be free of bulky handbags. lnspired by both high fashion runway moments of the 90's and ancient Japanese Sagemonos, Mimi helps you travel light so you can go about your day in style. With luxe leather pieces for storing earpods, phones, keys and credit cards, Mimi keeps your essentials safe and conveniently at your fingertips.

The Mimi collection includes small pieces with big functionality and versatile styling options. Wear one piece alone or attach multiple to the included leather wristlet. Sling the Mimi Crossbody Bag over your shoulder or wear it around the waist with or without attachments. Go for a monochromatic look or mix and match the bright rainbow of on-trend colours. Mimi is designed to meet your needs and express your personal style.

As a five-generation family company we understand that extraordinary objects are representations of extraordinary moments in life. Since 1834 the WOLF mark has been a symbol of decades of innovation and the pursuit of the perfect design. We believe for a legacy to endure it must be nourished and upheld. Every day in beautiful WOLF cases around the world, centuries-old treasures live side-by-side with exquisite new designs. We are dedicated to honouring people’s stories and the priceless jewellery and timepieces they entrust to us.

Protect Your Legacy in a WOLF.