We discussed the rich history of Bachendorf’s and the tenacity of Fallon’s family, most notably her grandfather who was liberated from Dachau during the Holocaust. Fallon talked about her inspiration when designing her own line, the best business advice she’s ever received, the latest brand to be carried at Bachendorf’s (Messika), and a couple of jewelry trends that have got to go.
Bailey Powell Aldrich (Fort Worth Key Magazine): Tell me about Bachendorf’s. How did it start with your family?
Fallon Bock (Bachendorf’s): We were in the diamond business in Lithuania. My family was in the Holocaust. My grandfather’s cousins had migrated to A&M previously, and they were in General Patton’s army, went to get everyone from Dachau, picked up my grandfather, and brought him to Dallas. Then he continued doing the diamond importing. We were the first diamond importer in Texas. We were on Commerce Street right across from Neiman Marcus. We started their bridal business, basically, with all the diamonds. You could walk across the street.
In 1948 we had our first storefront, and Bachendorf’s was established. That was my grandfather, and then my father [began] working in the business and he’s done a phenomenal job. What’s great about it is that he never forced me into it, I kind of decided on my own. I went to [Gemological Institute of America] in New York—graduate Gemologist degree—and then worked for one of our diamond partners there, sorted melee which is the really small diamonds, and then I worked for another part of our luxury jewelry store group in Princeton, New Jersey. I worked under their buyer who is incredible, and then I came back here two weeks before Covid.
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