The Bavarian Order of Merit (German: Bayerischer Verdienstorden) is the Order of Merit of the Free State of Bavaria. It is awarded by the Minister-President of Bavaria as a "recognition of outstanding contributions to the Free State of Bavaria and the Bavarian people".The order was instituted by law on 11 June 1957. The Prime Minister and the Cabinet can nominate awardees. Hemmerle, a German jewellery house based in Munich founded in 1893, is the exclusive maker of the Bavarian Order of Merit since it was instituted in 1957. Source: Wikipedia (en)