H. Stern More Jewelry and Watches
Born into a Jewish family in Essen, Germany, Hans Stern (1922–2007) fled with his parents to Rio de Janeiro at the onset of World War II. There he landed a job working for the precious stone and mineral exporter Cristab. Thus began Stern’s rise to become “the king of the colored gems,” as the media would dub him, and founder of the family-owned H.Stern jewelry business that now has over 150 stores worldwide.
While working for Cristab, Stern regularly visited mines on horseback. At the remote mines of Minas Gerais, Brazil, he cultivated relationships with many of the miners, developing professional connections that would endure for decades. He also embraced a fascination with the colorful semiprecious stones harvested in the area. In 1945, he started his own company, H.Stern, with the goal of marketing Brazilian gemstones — then virtually unknown on the global stage — to an international audience.
Though the company began as a trader in gemstones, it soon expanded to jewelry, with Stern assembling and training a team of young jewelers. A frequent motif in the company’s designs was the star, as Stern is “star” in German. In 1949, H.Stern opened its first jewelry shop in Rio de Janeiro, but a storefront was not his customers’ only view into the brand’s jewelry-making process. In the 1950s, Stern became one of the first major jewelers to offer tours of his workshop, showing off the creative process and elevating the role of craftsmanship in jewelry design.
Stern’s approach and his vibrant jewels, which favored organic settings designed to show off colorful gems, earned international recognition and put Brazil’s topaz, amethyst and tourmaline on the map. Tourmaline was reportedly Stern’s favorite, and the company’s Rio de Janeiro vaults are also home to Paraíba tourmalines, which are mined in the mountains of Paraíba, Brazil. He recognized the burgeoning tourism industry in the country as an opportunity to promote the beauty of these stones, opening stores in the lobbies of Brazil’s leading hotels and investing in vehicles to bring visitors to the H.Stern headquarters. By the mid-1990s, the company was opening stores abroad and selling jewelry at international department stores.
In the 1980s, the brand debuted its first celebrity collaboration, with French actress Catherine Deneuve. Since then it has worked with partners such as designer Diane von Fürstenberg and architect Oscar Niemeyer. In 2016, Assouline published a book on the 70-year history of H.Stern, from its humble founding to its worldwide acclaim. Today, the company is run by Stern’s son, Roberto, who has introduced a broad range of new collections and styles.
On 1stDibs, find a collection of H. Stern necklaces, rings, earrings and other accessories.
21st Century and Contemporary H. Stern More Jewelry and Watches
White Diamond, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary H. Stern More Jewelry and Watches
Diamond, Morganite, 18k Gold, Rose Gold
1990s Brazilian Modern H. Stern More Jewelry and Watches
Lapis Lazuli, Diamond, 18k Gold, White Gold
2010s German Contemporary H. Stern More Jewelry and Watches
Star Sapphire, Diamond, 18k Gold, White Gold
2010s American Contemporary H. Stern More Jewelry and Watches
White Diamond, Diamond, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold, Gold
2010s Brazilian Contemporary H. Stern More Jewelry and Watches
18k Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Hong Kong Contemporary H. Stern More Jewelry and Watches
Diamond, 18k Gold, White Gold, Rose Gold, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Hong Kong Contemporary H. Stern More Jewelry and Watches
Diamond, 18k Gold, White Gold, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Emirian Art Deco H. Stern More Jewelry and Watches
Diamond, Rose Gold
1970s French Vintage H. Stern More Jewelry and Watches
Lapis Lazuli, 18k Gold
2010s Unknown H. Stern More Jewelry and Watches
Diamond, 18k Gold
2010s Italian H. Stern More Jewelry and Watches
Lapis Lazuli, Ruby, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Contemporary H. Stern More Jewelry and Watches
Diamond, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
2010s Italian H. Stern More Jewelry and Watches
Agate, Diamond, White Diamond, Lapis Lazuli, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
2010s Italian H. Stern More Jewelry and Watches
Agate, Carnelian, Chalcedony, Emerald, Hematite, Jade, Lapis Lazuli, Mal...
1980s Brazilian Contemporary Vintage H. Stern More Jewelry and Watches
Multi-gemstone, 18k Gold
1980s Brazilian Contemporary Vintage H. Stern More Jewelry and Watches
Multi-gemstone, 18k Gold
20th Century H. Stern More Jewelry and Watches
1980s Contemporary Vintage H. Stern More Jewelry and Watches
Amethyst, Citrine, Diamond, White Diamond, Peridot, Topaz, Tourmaline, B...
20th Century Brazilian H. Stern More Jewelry and Watches
Aquamarine, Diamond, White Gold
20th Century H. Stern More Jewelry and Watches
H. Stern more jewelry and watches for sale on 1stDibs.
- What is the history of H. Stern?1 Answer1stDibs ExpertApril 5, 2024The history of H. Stern begins with Hans Stern, who fled with his parents to Rio de Janeiro at the onset of World War II. There, he landed a job working for the precious stone and mineral exporter Cristab, regularly visiting mines on horseback. At the remote mines of Minas Gerais in southeastern Brazil, he cultivated relationships with many of the miners, developing professional connections that would endure for decades. He also developed a fascination with the colorful semi-precious stones found in the area. In 1945, he started his own company, H. Stern, with the goal of marketing Brazilian gemstones. Though the company began as a trader in gemstones, it soon expanded to jewelry, with Stern assembling and training a team of young jewelers. In 1949, H. Stern opened its first jewelry shop in Rio de Janeiro. During the 1980s, the brand debuted its first celebrity collaboration with French actress Catherine Deneuve. By the mid-1990s, the company was opening stores abroad and selling jewelry at international department stores. Today, the company is run by Stern's son, Roberto, who has introduced a broad range of new collections and styles. On 1stDibs, shop a selection of H. Stern jewelry.
- Who owns H. Stern jewelry?1 Answer1stDibs ExpertApril 5, 2022Hans Stern owns H. Stern jewelry. The jewelry designer founded the company in 1945 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, where its headquarters remain today. Stern's son, Roberto Stern, serves as the Creative Director and President as of January 2022. Shop a large selection of H. Stern jewelry on 1stDibs.