H. Stern Rings
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.
1960s Brazilian Modern Vintage H. Stern Rings
Amethyst, Aquamarine, Citrine, Garnet, Peridot, Rubelite, Indicolite, Go...
21st Century and Contemporary Unknown Contemporary H. Stern Rings
Diamond, White Diamond, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
1980s Brazilian Modernist Vintage H. Stern Rings
Blue Sapphire, Sapphire, White Gold, 18k Gold, Gold
1990s Brazilian H. Stern Rings
Diamond, Tourmaline, White Gold
Mid-20th Century Modern H. Stern Rings
Lapis Lazuli, Gold
Late 20th Century Brazilian Modern H. Stern Rings
Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
1990s Brazilian Modernist H. Stern Rings
Aquamarine, Diamond, White Diamond, Gold, 18k Gold, White Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Brazilian Modern H. Stern Rings
Diamond, White Diamond, Gold, 18k Gold, White Gold
21st Century and Contemporary H. Stern Rings
Citrine, Diamond, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Early 2000s Brazilian H. Stern Rings
Diamond, Gold
Early 2000s Brazilian H. Stern Rings
Blue Topaz, Gold
Early 2000s Brazilian H. Stern Rings
Diamond, Brown Diamond, Gold
1980s Brazilian Modernist Vintage H. Stern Rings
Citrine, Diamond, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
2010s H. Stern Rings
Diamond, 18k Gold, White Gold
1980s Brazilian Vintage H. Stern Rings
Aquamarine, Diamond, 18k Gold, White Gold
21st Century and Contemporary H. Stern Rings
Tourmaline, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Brazilian Modern H. Stern Rings
18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Early 2000s Brazilian H. Stern Rings
Citrine, Diamond, Quartz, Gold
Early 2000s Brazilian H. Stern Rings
Quartz, Gold
1960s French Retro Vintage H. Stern Rings
Diamond, Quartz, White Gold, 18k Gold
Early 2000s Brazilian H. Stern Rings
Diamond, Quartz, Blue Sapphire, Gold
Early 2000s Brazilian H. Stern Rings
Citrine, Diamond, Blue Sapphire, Gold
Early 2000s Brazilian H. Stern Rings
Beryl, Citrine, Ruby, Tourmaline, Gold
2010s Brazilian H. Stern Rings
Diamond, Brown Diamond, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
1990s American Contemporary H. Stern Rings
Diamond, 18k Gold
1980s Brazilian Contemporary Vintage H. Stern Rings
Multi-gemstone, 18k Gold
2010s H. Stern Rings
Diamond, White Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Brazilian Modernist H. Stern Rings
Diamond, White Diamond, 18k Gold, White Gold
Late 20th Century American Contemporary H. Stern Rings
Amethyst, Diamond, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Early 2000s H. Stern Rings
Aquamarine, Citrine, Diamond, Ruby, Tourmaline, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Brazilian H. Stern Rings
Crystal, Diamond, Rock Crystal, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
1960s Vintage H. Stern Rings
Amethyst, Peridot, Tourmaline, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
20th Century Contemporary H. Stern Rings
Sapphire, Blue Sapphire, Gold, 18k Gold, White Gold
20th Century Brazilian H. Stern Rings
Diamond, Quartz, Tourmaline, 18k Gold
20th Century Brazilian Modernist H. Stern Rings
Multi-gemstone, Gold, 18k Gold
1960s American Vintage H. Stern Rings
Aquamarine, Diamond, Gold, Platinum
20th Century Brazilian H. Stern Rings
Diamond, Emerald, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Unknown H. Stern Rings
Star Sapphire, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Early 2000s Brazilian H. Stern Rings
White Gold
2010s Modern H. Stern Rings
Amethyst, Yellow Gold
H. Stern rings 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.