Oprah Winfrey once said, “There are people you meet…who seem destined to do something extraordinary…their light shines a little bit brighter than most.”
The late Hans Stern, whose last name actually means “star,” definitely accomplished something remarkable.
Described by Time Magazine as “the king of diamonds and colored gems, capable of unveiling the personality hidden in every precious stone,” Stern had the talent for bringing jewels to life.
H. Stern continues to adapt to the changing times with a younger aesthetic, while still preserving its roots, as the brand’s recent Red Carpet Collection celebrates the modern woman and puts a new spin on favorite classics.
“Zephyr” (named after the Greek god of the west wind), with its sensual designs, is inspired by the strength and movement of nature and interprets the environment’s interaction with the woman of today.
Meanwhile, the “Highlight Stars” and “DVF by H. Stern Sutra” collections give perennial style staples like the cocktail ring and gold link bracelet a subtle redesign.
“Highlight Stars,” like the “Stars” collection, is inspired by the brand’s visual trademark: the Victorian star. A diamond-set Victorian star delicately sits under translucent regular stones, which are anchored to the rings with nearly invisible prongs.
Proving the brand’s ability to create something fresh while being inspired by its history, “DVF by H. Stern Sutra” features gold links that can be fastened onto one another and turned into a statement-making necklace.
Diane von Furstenberg’s engraved inspirational words of love, laughter, creativity and integrity, among others, also add a personal and whimsical touch to the yellow-gold bracelets.
Continuing Stern’s fascination with nature, “Hera” (the queen of Olympian deities) finds inspiration in the leaf crowns and other natural elements worn by Greek gods in ancient Greek mythology.
The collection’s bold leaf motif, in 18K noble gold and cognac diamonds or in 18K yellow gold with a unique textured finish produced by H. Stern artisans, speaks of the brand’s understated and romantic elegance.
To this day, the passion behind Stern’s love of gemstones is still very much alive. Continuing his father’s colorful success story is eldest son Roberto, who values not only the size or color of each gem (like Hans, who created an International Warranty Certificate in 1949), but also the design of each jewel.
As the only Latin-American jeweler to participate in the International Exhibit of Modern Jewelry sponsored by London’s Victoria and Albert Museum in 1961 and the first Brazilian jeweler to launch collections inspired by famous personalities, Hans Stern reaped numerous achievements and left a legacy that lives on.
From a store at the Rio de Janeiro docks in 1949, the brand has grown into an empire of 160 stores in 12 countries, with a headquarters in Ipanema that houses souvenir shops, galleries, a museum and an exhibition hall, among others, receiving 10,000 visitors monthly.
Today, H. Stern’s exquisite jewelry dazzles on many famous personalities like Hollywood’s leading ladies, no less.
H. Stern is available only at Adora, 3/F Greenbelt 5, Ayala Center, Makati City.