Luxury businesses often speak about heritage, but few can trace it so clearly through a single family. For Van Deijl Jewellers, established in Parow, Cape Town, in 1960 by Wilco and Hermine van Deijl, heritage was a way of life.
Long before destination jewellery stores and luxury watch boutiques became part of South Africa’s retail landscape, the Van Deijls were building a business intended to last. Wilco earned a reputation as one of the country’s most accomplished watchmakers and gemmologists, setting the exacting standards on which the business was built. Hermine brought an effortless sense of style and grace. Together, they founded a company built on trust.
As their sons Ernst, Liebrecht, and Henri grew up, they were immersed in a world where craftsmanship was part of daily life. Watches were disassembled and rebuilt. Gemstones were examined under magnification. Conversations around the family table often centred on precision, creativity, and the responsibility that comes with creating objects people would treasure for generations. Each son interpreted those lessons differently.
Wilco believed clients should always leave with a sincere wish for their success. Hermine showed her sons that every commission – whether a simple repair or a bespoke jewel – deserved the same honesty and attention. Those principles became the foundation of Van Deijl’s way of doing business.
Liebrecht inherited his father’s respect for precision and craftsmanship, and his mother’s eye for elegance. He also understood that jewellery is rarely about the object alone. It marks the people and moments that give it meaning.
He had an easy way with people, with the rare ability to make others feel seen. Clients came to him with engagement rings, family heirlooms, and significant watch purchases, knowing they would be heard. Whether designing an engagement ring, restoring a treasured heirloom, or selecting a significant timepiece, Liebrecht understood that luxury purchases often mark life’s most important moments. Relationships mattered as much as the objects themselves.
After the brothers assumed leadership in 1994, Van Deijl entered a new phase of growth. Over the next three decades, the business opened destination stores at Tyger Valley Centre and Somerset Mall, while investing in a gemmological laboratory, an advanced workshop, and a dedicated design department. Through that expansion, the principles established by Wilco and Hermine remained unchanged.
As the business grew, Van Deijl Watches became home to some of the world’s most respected watch brands, including Rolex. It is also an Official Rolex Retailer.
Craft, Creativity and Curiosity
Today, Van Deijl combines traditional craftsmanship with advanced 3D design technology, allowing bespoke concepts to be visualised before they are brought to life. It is precisely the kind of evolution Wilco and Hermine would have appreciated: embracing modern tools while protecting the artistry at the heart of the craft.
Liebrecht was passionate about nurturing creativity. Under his guidance, young jewellery designers at Van Deijl earned recognition through competitions such as the De Beers Shining Light Awards and PlatAfrica.
For him, great design was about finding balance – the essence of beauty. He had an instinctive ability to see harmony where others saw complexity, bringing a design to life with only a few pencil strokes. That same philosophy shaped his view of true luxury. Liebrecht always said a jewellery box need not be full; it should hold pieces of exceptional quality, chosen with purpose and cherished for generations. His personal watch collection reflected the same appreciation for engineering excellence, reliability, and fine craftsmanship that shaped every aspect of his work.
Liebrecht also devoted time to preserving historically significant clocks, volunteering to maintain the historic collection at Groote Schuur without charge.
Another enduring passion was writing. The addition of a Montblanc boutique in 2007 reflected an interest he already had. Liebrecht valued handwritten communication in an increasingly digital world and was rarely without a Montblanc fountain pen.
He embraced life with curiosity, purpose, and a spirit of adventure. An avid traveller, he found joy in scuba diving, 4×4 expeditions, and golf – but above all, in sharing these experiences with the people he loved. The beauty of the ocean was one of his greatest passions. The Red Sea held a special place in his heart, and he delighted in exploring it with his brothers, children, and close friends.
A Legacy That Lives On
Life was also about gathering around a table. Together with his wife, Carin, Liebrecht never needed an excuse to open their home, whether for a leisurely lunch or to celebrate a birthday. His enthusiasm for life, generosity of spirit, and unwavering support for family, friends, and colleagues reflected the values by which he lived – and the legacy he leaves behind.
