Nothing makes you feel quite like royalty than trying on a piece of jewelry that was actually worn by Hollywood royalty — in my case, Gwyneth Paltrow, who christened her star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame while wearing a different kind of star: H.Stern’s Highlight Stars ring. (Not to belabor the point, but “stern” is also German for “star,” so the house symbol is, of course, a stylized, bejeweled depiction of that celestial body.)
Anyway, I was able to try on Gwyneth’s ring, which in reality is an absolutely breathtaking work of art. The rectangular amethyst is over 99 carats, almost two inches long, and of a pale lavender so clear it’s like crystal. Encased in the stone itself is a star that glitters with cognac diamonds, set in the 18-karat Noble Gold that is propietary to H.Stern.
This Highlight Stars ring is one of the baubles in H.Stern’s Red Carpet collection, which will be available for a limited time at Adora in Greenbelt 5. Consisting of jewels that celebrities have worn on the red carpet, not only can you view the pieces now but don’t be put off by the fact that they’re behind glass. Adora’s highly trained staff are more than willing to let customers try them on and I highly recommend it. Not only will you feel like a celebrity yourself but you just might find something that calls your name.
Like Sharon Stone did in Diane Von Furstenberg’s Sutras collection by H.Stern. The Basic Instinct diva found something to relate to in DVF’s Sutras bracelet, which seamlessly interlocks 18K gold links and bears the Tibetan knot of infinity, which symbolizes eternal love.
“DVF went to India to do her spiritual healing,” relates Erica Ilacad, Adora’s communications manager.
“The engraved words on the jewelry represent everything important to her, like love, knowledge, and truth,” adds H.Stern manager Meileen Torres.
“That was not such a good time in career and personal life,” continues Erica. “Her business wasn’t doing so well, she was getting divorced — so she chose to go to India for renewal and discovery and this collection is based upon that time of her life.”
Cameron Diaz was also lured by another Diane Von Furstenberg by H.Stern range, the Rock Crystal collection. A symbol of purity believed to bring good luck, rock crystals of different shapes and facets adorned Diaz’s wrist at the premiere of her movie In Her Shoes.
Another standout piece is an 18K gold bracelet from the Zephyr collection, which Jennifer Lopez picked pieces from for a Vanity Fair Oscars party appearance. Inspired by the Greek god of the west wind, the cuff is handcrafted (as all H.Stern pieces are) in such a way that it conveys breeziness and movement — what you would normally think improbable in a material like precious metal.
H.Stern’s penchant for natural forms is also evident in the Hera collection, which Halle Berry wore to the 2009 Academy Awards. “All of the inspirations are nature-oriented, so the shapes are very organic,” Ilacad explains. “The designers aren’t even allowed to read fashion magazines because they don’t want them to be influenced by trends, so Roberto Stern, the creative director and CEO, will tell them to go see the Grupo Corpo dance troupe for their inspiration, or go out and get inspired by nature.”
Sex and the City actress Bridget Moynahan attended the 2012 Moves Power Women Awards gala sparkling in Stars earrings and deco ring, which showed H.Stern’s visual signature to full effect in champagne-colored 18K Noble Gold studded with 37 full-cut diamonds. “No matter how small the diamonds may appear, they’re all full-cut, with 57 or 58 facets,” Ilacad says.
Young Hollywood has also discovered H.Stern. At the “Schiaparelli and Prada: Impossible Conversations” Costume Institute Gala at New York City’s Metropolitan Museum, rising starlets Lily Collins, Nina Dobrev, Hailee Steinfeld and Malin Akerman walked the red carpet in H.Stern jewels, giving the Brazilian jewelry house fresh cachet.
Mirror Mirror star Lily Collins chose pieces from H.Stern’s Zephyr collection. The actress, who played Snow White, twinkled in Zephyr earrings and two H.Stern Zephyr rings, all in 18K Noble Gold with diamonds.
The Vampire Diaries’ Nina Dobrev craned some necks in H.Stern Stars stud earrings and ring, both in 18K noble gold with diamonds.
Up-and-comer Hailee Steinfeld showed true grit in an H.Stern citrine necklace in 18K yellow gold, and Rock of Ages’ Malin Akerman shone in a different kind of rock — a diamond Sutras bracelet by DVF for H.Stern in 18K white gold.
So what is it about this 67-year-old jewelry institution that appeals to these fresh faces?
Perhaps it’s H.Stern’s knack for reinventing itself, and its uncompromising emphasis on design, which makes their jewelry look different from everyone else’s: sleek, modern, and always youthful in spirit.
“At H.Stern the design really comes first,” Ilacad says. “Instead of getting a stone and designing around it, they sketch their design and creative concept first, and then they source the stones that would fit their designs.”
“Imagine having to look for diamonds in the shade that they need for a certain piece,” adds Torres. “That’s why it takes months, years, to find the perfect stone.”
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H.Stern’s Red Carpet collection is available only at Adora in Greenbelt 5, Makati.