60 years of our company`s history

Developments in science, optics, gemmology and precision engineering of our family enterprise caused quite a stir. High-precision optical instruments and other scientific products have been shipped worldwide.

At the beginning the SCHNEIDER–factory built machines and prototypes for gemstone cutters and the optical industry. Based on the first machine, a drilling machine, our company developed installations, equipment and devices for the gemstone industry.

The history of gemmological instruments started in 1949 when my father, Hans Günter Schneider, in cooperation with Prof. Dr. Schlossmacher, built the first gemmological microscope an so laid the foundation for gemstone diagnostics. The first handmade horizontal microscopes of our company were produced. All later generations of gemmological microscopes were built according to this model. Nowadays the traditional precision engineering is perfectly combined with innovative electronic technology.

After the first  gemmological microscope had been constructed, our company invested all its power in developing and building completely new gemmological instruments. From 1959 on the manufacturing program was expanded and polariscopes, spectroscopes and refractometer were produced. Synthetic stones ameliorated and posed the challenge to distinguish those from genuine gemstones. Permanent development  and quality intensification was necessary. Nowadays we are one of the best manufacturers of gemmological instruments around the world with greatest know-how and best reputations. You will find SCHNEIDER products in all prime laboratories, university’s and schools.

In 1967 the first  in-house stereo-microscopes were built.. From this followed in 1972 the cooperation with Carl Zeiss, Oberkochen, our partner for high-quality optical equipment.  A precondition for this co-operation was our high standard of quality.

In 1986 construction and production were computerized,  to maintain our quality also in the future. Basically all instruments produced in our company are made of metal, a material which bears up under heavy duty in all climates. Due to of the high quality of our products we issue a 10-years-guarantee for all SCHNEIDER in-house products.

As we attach great importance not only on the quality of our products but also on the professional advice, our customers are attended by  gemstone- and diamond-experts.