[ ](https://www.gandelman.net/rolex?cmpid=retailer_clock) # Our Story 1931 1931 ![Gerzon Becher, father of Fanya Gandelman](https://www.gandelman.net/images/story/gerzon-becher.jpg) Gerzon Becher, father of Fanya Gandelman, establishes a dry cleaning business on the island of Curaçao 1931 1949 1949 ![Fanya marries Morris Gandelman](https://www.gandelman.net/images/story/19490308-wedding-morris-fanya-3.jpg) Fanya marries Morris Gandelman, marking the start of the 2nd generation in the business. They open a luxury clothing boutique, "Elegance", along with two other stores, in Willemstad, Curacao. 1958 1958 ![ Breedestraat in Willemstad, Curacao, called The Beehive.](https://www.gandelman.net/images/story/de-bijenkorf-1959.jpg) The Gandelmans open what would become their longtime flagship store on Breedestraat in Willemstad, Curacao, called The Beehive. 1958 1964 1964 ![Brazilian jeweler Hans Stern](https://www.gandelman.net/images/story/h-stern.png) The Brazilian jeweler Hans Stern travels to Curacao and develops a close friendship with Fanya and Morris. He decides to offer them a deal as the exclusive retailer on the island for his jewelry line H. Stern, marking a new venture for the Gandelmans from high-end fashion to jewelry. ![The Brazilian jeweler Hans Stern travels to Curacao](https://www.gandelman.net/images/story/1978-Curacao.jpg) 1970 1970 ![Morris Gandelman starts creating his own jewelry designs for the store](https://www.gandelman.net/images/story/1980-curacao-workshop.jpg) Morris Gandelman starts creating his own jewelry designs for the store. As a creative self-starter, he becomes fascinated by the art of making jewelry, and goes on to produce custom made rings, earrings, necklaces and bracelets. He trains and hires eight goldsmiths to bring his designs to reality. ![TMorris Gandelman starts creating his own jewelry designs for the store](https://www.gandelman.net/images/story/1970-gandelman.jpg) 1970 1970s 1970s ![The Gandelmans travel frequently to New York](https://www.gandelman.net/images/misc/heritage.jpg) The Gandelmans travel frequently to New York where Morris learns about designing, casting, and molding jewelry in the city’s Diamond District, while Fanya selects and negotiates buying new gemstones for Morris’s designs. 1977 1977 ![Robert moves to the island of St Maarten to build a store in the center of Philipsburg](https://www.gandelman.net/images/story/robert-gandelman.jpg) Fanya and Morris’s son, Robert, joins the business and moves to the island of St Maarten to build a store in the center of the island’s capital, Philipsburg. As a graduate of MIT and UCLA’s Anderson School of Management, and the first Gandelman to attend University, Robert brings to the table a fresh outlook and strong drive to propel the company’s expanding success. ![Robert moves to the island of St Maarten to build a store in the center of Philipsburg](https://www.gandelman.net/images/story/1976-Hazelton-Lanes.jpg) 1977 1981 1981 ![Robert Gandelman moves to Aruba](https://www.gandelman.net/images/story/aruba-jewelry-stores-1981.jpg) Robert Gandelman moves to Aruba and opens the company’s first store there, on Mainstreet. Over the course of the 80s, Gandelman opens eight luxury boutiques, at one point selling 40 well known brands. Meanwhile, in Curacao, two more stores were debuted. ![Robert Gandelman moves to Aruba](https://www.gandelman.net/images/story/gandelman-jewelers-1981.jpg) 1992 1992 ![Gandelman ventures to open the first Cartier Boutique on Aruba](https://www.gandelman.net/images/story/cartier-boutique-aruba-2.jpg) After being approached by the iconic French jewelry brand, Gandelman ventures to open the first Cartier Boutique on Aruba. With seemingly no options for a prime store front that was available at the time, Robert spends a day on the main square in Aruba’s downtown capital until he finally spots the perfect location: the site of the Renaissance Mall’s electrical closet. 1992 1998 1998 ![Gandelman acquires Rolex](https://www.gandelman.net/images/story/rolex.jpg) Gandelman acquires Rolex and becomes the official Rolex retailer for Aruba and Curacao, after winning the confidence of Rolex Geneva over many years of talks, dinners, and facsimiles. Early 2000s Early 2000s ![Gandelman acquires the Bulgari and David Yurman lines of jewelry](https://www.gandelman.net/images/story/david-yurman-robert-gandelman.jpg) Gandelman acquires the Bulgari and David Yurman lines of jewelry after frequent travels to Italy and New York. Robert develops a close relationship with the Yurmans after having met David in Las Vegas many years earlier. Early 2000s 2009 2009 ![four boutiques: Bulgari, Cartier, David Yurman and Rolex](https://www.gandelman.net/images/story/gandelman-global.jpg) With the global economy shifting, Robert Gandelman decides to consolidate the company’s brands and locations over a 10 year period, from a height of 12 stores in both Aruba and Curacao, to four boutiques, each one specializing in a particular brand: Bulgari, Cartier, David Yurman and Rolex. ![Gandelman four boutiques: Bulgari, Cartier, David Yurman and Rolex](https://www.gandelman.net/images/story/gandelman-global2.jpg) 2015 & 2016 2015 & 2016 ![Robert Gandelman’s daughters join the business](https://www.gandelman.net/images/story/gandelman-daughters.jpg) Robert Gandelman’s daughters join the business, marking the fourth generation. The company owns and operates four Boutiques in the Renaissance Mall in Aruba. 2015 & 2016 2025 2025 ![Gandelman reopens a completely remodeled and expanded Cartier Boutique ](https://www.gandelman.net/images/story/gandelman-cartier.jpg) Gandelman reopens a completely remodeled and expanded Cartier Boutique after eight years of planning. The store’s re-opening marks a significant new era for luxury shopping in Aruba. Today Today ![Gandelman is proud to be in its 4th generation, offering the top jewelry and watch brands from around the world](https://www.gandelman.net/images/story/gandelman-today.jpg) Gandelman is proud to be in its 4th generation, offering the top jewelry and watch brands from around the world, attracting customers from the world over, and continuing to lead the transformation of Aruba into a premier luxury destination in the Caribbean. 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