“In those days there was no such thing as a brand, it was called a reputation,” says 84-year-old Hans Stern, in response to the question of how he created the eponymous Brazilian jewellery brand.
Brand or no brand, Hans Stern has been at the helm of this global luxury jewellery house since he first set up shop in 1945. The company is still privately owned, but in 2005 Time magazine estimated annual sales at $500m. H Stern say they are one of the five largest jewellery companies in the world with 300 points of sale and 3,500 staff.
