H Stern is so named for the man who founded the firm, Hans Stern. Stern was born in Germany but moved to Brazil as a youth. At the end of World War II, at the tender age of only 22 years, he founded a small precious gem and diamond trading business in the country’s second-largest city, Rio de Janeiro.
In less than a decade, Stern established a jewelry manufacturing company at the city’s docks, the point of disembarkation for ocean cruise tourists. Only a decade after that, Time Magazine called Stern “the king of diamonds and colored gems, capable of unveiling the personality hidden in every precious stone”.
The firm has since established 160 stores and has branched out to a dozen countries in total, including the United States, France, Germany, and Israel. At this stage, the company has solidly established its brand and its jewelry is often seen featured in fashion magazines adorning the bodies of famous celebrities.
