Conversation with Christian Zörweg, founder of BUBEN & ZORWEG
BUBEN & ZORWEG is globally renowned for its high-security, bespoke safes crafted to protect the world’s most precious timepieces and valuables. Fusing cutting-edge technology with exquisite design, their masterpieces feature innovations such as biometric locking systems, bulletproof glass, and safes ingeniously disguised as Grandfather Clocks.
I had an opportunity to interview Christian Zorweg, founder of the company and got to know more about the brand.
How has the company adapted to consumers and the way people shop from the time when it was founded in 1995 to now?
Our clients have always been at the heart of everything we do. Since 1995, BUBEN & ZORWEG has evolved from a pioneering idea into a global luxury brand, combining tradition with innovation to create new ways for people to experience our masterpieces, in person, technically and digitally. We’ve adapted to our clients’ changing lifestyles through bespoke experiences, digital touchpoints, and exclusive boutiques, all while staying true to our mission of creating unique masterpieces.
You’ve stated that you’re responsible for the design at BUBEN & ZORWEG and work closely with a team of designers. How do you balance pushing the boundaries of what “nobody has seen before” with ensuring that each piece remains functionally excellent and emotionally resonant?
At BUBEN&ZORWEG, we continuously explore new design directions while remaining true to our principles of craftsmanship, precision, and timeless aesthetics. Every masterpiece is the result of close collaboration between designers, engineers, and master craftspeople, ensuring that innovation and functionality are always perfectly balanced. Our goal is to create unique pieces that fascinate from every angle, endure for generations, and evoke an emotional connection through their form, materials, and the story behind their creation.
In January 2019, Florian vom Bruch was brought in as the first external CEO while you remained as founder. What was the most important thing you wanted to ensure would be preserved?
It was essential to ensure that the spirit and values of BUBEN&ZORWEG remained at the core of the company. The new leadership builds on this foundation while driving the brand’s global growth and long-term vision.
Your Manufaktur is in the heart of Germany’s engineering region near Stuttgart and later expanded to Pforzheim. Why did you choose to keep all design and manufacturing 100% in Germany?
We’ve always believed that true excellence comes from unity: bringing together design, engineering, and craftsmanship under one roof. Germany, and especially the region near Stuttgart and Pforzheim, has a long tradition of precision engineering and innovation, which perfectly reflects our values. Keeping all design and manufacturing in Germany allows us to oversee every detail from concept to completion, ensuring that each masterpiece meets the highest standards of quality, security, and artistry. It’s the foundation of what engineered & made in Germany truly means for BUBEN&ZORWEG.
You can sit with clients discussing everything from leather types to wood finishes to secret compartments. What’s the most unusual or challenging custom request you’ve received?
One of the most unusual requests came from a client who wanted a safe with 17 drawers, each designed to carry a load of 15 kilograms. At first, I was puzzled about what he intended to store in such compact but heavy-duty drawers. Later, he revealed that his new BUBEN & ZORWEG safe would become the home for his gold bar collection.
In past interviews, you’ve mentioned wanting to “build a brand for the next 100 years that can be handed down in generations.”. Has anything changed on that?
That vision remains unchanged. From the very beginning, our goal has been to create a brand built to endure, one that embodies timeless values, craftsmanship, and innovation. We design and craft each masterpiece with the same intention: to be cherished, preserved, and passed on from one generation to the next. Building for the next 100 years means thinking beyond trends, it’s about creating lasting emotional and material value.
Have you noticed any differences between collectors requesting a custom-made / bespoke safe in Australia compared to other countries?
We can see that the majority of clients order a safe as a family project, husband and wife usually decide together on the style, size, materials, and colors. The safes are almost always placed in the bedroom or walk-in closet, where they become part of the interior design. One memorable project was a bespoke safe weighing 1,600 kilograms, one of the heaviest we have ever built for a private residence.
What is the product, whether custom made or not, are you most proud of?
It’s difficult to single out just one, because every BUBEN&ZORWEG masterpiece tells its own story. But if I had to choose, the limited-edition Aston Martin “One 007” safe would probably be my favorite. It was a true work of art, the doors opened with the roaring sound of a V12 engine, and every curve of the object was sculpted with absolute precision. There wasn’t a single flat surface; the entire piece felt alive, like a sculpture in motion.
Official BUBEN & ZORWEG Australian Authorised Dealer
The brand’s exceptional creations are sought after by royalty, world leaders, and elite collectors, and are available for purchase through J Farren-Price — reflecting what discerning Australian collectors are choosing to invest in.
