On the maternal side, our ancestor Heinrich Ernst Bittmann from Idar-Oberstein grew up in the world's renowned center of the semi-precious stone trade, where he worked as a gemstone merchant. Around 100 years ago, he moved to St. Moritz, bringing his entrepreneurial spirit with him. There, he founded the town's first watch and jewellery shop and married into a well-established local family.

On the paternal side, the story began more modestly. Our ancestor Silvio Beretta trained
as a typesetter. While preparing a newspaper advertisement for a plot of land for sale in Samedan, he contacted the owner before the advertisement was published—and decided to buy the property himself. He later built a hotel on the site and expanded by opening a restaurant.

From restaurant to catering was another succesful step. 1899 he secured the catering contract for the workforce constructing the first Albula Tunnel, serving more than 1,000 workers. The success of this venture enabled him to purchase a property in Zurich, where his son later developed a residential building comprising twelve apartments.