Think what it was like back in the late 1800’s and early 1900’s going shopping. There were no cars, no valet, no parking lots, just places to tie up your horse carriages or you would just walk the dirt roads and stroll the small little roads.
In the 1960’s Hildgund Bucky, who was a master goldsmith, purchased the company and the name was changed to Hildgund at Dawkins Benny. Hildgund originally from Germany had trained in Vienna to become a master goldsmith and came to Hawaii in the 1940’s.
Through the years Hildgund started to create many one of a kind items with colored gemstones and diamonds. When someone wanted something different, Hildgund at Dawkins Benny was the place to shop.
Hildgund designs were very European styles using large colored gemstones accented with diamonds. Hildgund won many awards for her unusual designs. Hildgund philosophy was that she used her creative mind to build items that she liked. She wanted to be different.
She didn’t want Hildgund Jewelry to be like all the other jewelry companies. Hildgund Jewelry clientele consisted primarily of the local people in Hawaii, which consisted of many downtown workers, movie stars, and dignitaries. She created many custom designs for many of these people.
In 1981 Hildgund and her husband, Carl, wanted the people coming from the rest of the world to enjoy and see what Hildgund Jewelry stores had to offer and started to open other locations in the state of Hawaii. Currently there are six locations throughout the state of Hawaii, which are all located in some of the top hotels in the World on three different islands.
The first hotel location opened in 1981 at the Mauna Lani Bay Hotel, on the Big Island of Hawaii, then the Four Seasons Resort and Spa on Maui, Ihilani Resort on Oahu, followed by the Mauna Kea Beach Hotel and the Four Seasons Hualalai Resort on the Big Island.
The last one to open was the location in The Kahala Hotel and Resort on Oahu. They have had many offers and opportunities to open locations throughout the world, but Hildgund and Carl have declined. They always wanted to maintain the idea of shopping at Hildgund is a special treat when coming to Hawaii.
Hildgund and Carl trained the employees of Hildgund Jewelry to create an enjoyable and relaxed atmosphere while shopping at one of their locations. The custom locally made Koa cases and a picture of Hildgund on the wall are the first two things you will notice in all the stores when entering Hildgund.
After spending over 50 years in the jewelry trade, Hildgund retired in 1995 at which time the downtown location was closed. Carl Bucky continued the tradition and the philosophy that they had for so many years.
When Bruce purchases pieces he does not buy multiples of those items. Bruce says, “I want the customer to experience different items in different locations. If what the customer is looking for is not in one location it could be in another location.”