15 years later, when Hollywood and high society were flooding Rio de Janeiro’s Copacabana Palace and relishing in the city’s rhythm and wonders, SAUER was there to meet the challenge. The company’s first boutique opened directly beside the hotel in 1956 and marked the first time a carioca jeweler evoked the high standards of décor and service established by its French counterparts at the Place Vendôme in Paris. Combining vibrantly colored precious stones with innovative craftsmanship and magnetic designs, the brand’s artisans quickly established the foundational aesthetic for which it is still coveted today.

80 years after he founded the company, Jules’ commitment to conveying the mysticism and the emotional, physical and spiritual powers of gemstones is still at the core of the brand’s DNA and extends beyond his many celebrated designs. His discovery of the country’s first emerald mine in 1963 opened the doors for Brazil’s place in the international precious gemstone market and initiated him as the most esteemed and well-respected expert in Brazilian and Colombian emeralds in South America. He was also responsible for introducing and promoting Imperial Topaz, which is only found in Brazil, Tanzanite, which is produced exclusively in Tanzania, and Paraiba tourmaline and its breathtaking hues of neon blue.

Stephanie Wenk, SAUER’s Creative Director since 2013, continues to be guided by the brand’s ethos while applying a modern sensibility to contemporary collections. With a background in psychology and fashion, Stephanie’s designs are infused with symbolism and femininity. “As a woman at the helm of a brand that boasts a mainly female workplace, I think it is important to propagate the strength and diversity of the women who inspire us and who remind us that we invariably hold the key to solving the world’s greatest challenges,” she explains.

Stephanie’s collections are steeped in references to constellations, esoteric dimensions, artistic movements, architectural studies and scientific discovery, as well as influences of some of her favorite artists such as Viren Bhagat, JAR and Suzanne Belperron. Formidable in scale, materials and craftsmanship, her pieces contain a sense of playfulness, whimsicality and irreverence in palette and silhouette. The brand’s most recent collection, Tarsila, pays tribute to the work of one of the most prominent artists of Brazil’s modernist movement, Tarsila do Amaral. Throughout the collection, Stephanie reimagines the shapes, themes and colors that fueled Tarsila’s pursuit of a quintessential national identity in jewels that are three dimensional interpretations of paintings composed in the 1920’s.