VICENZA, Italy — Dubai-based Damas, the largest jewelry corporation in the Middle East, has acquired Stefan Hafner, a high-end jewelry firm based in Bologna, Italy.
The news was revealed at the Vicenzaoro trade fair, where the Swiss-born designer, now living in Bologna, showed his new collection of lace-inspired pieces with a romantic edge. The acquisition comes as a blessing for Hafner, who will stay on as creative designer and can now channel all his time and energy into developing the collection.
“We do not want to subtract anything. What we want to do is add values,” said Tawhid Abdullah, managing director at Damas.
To develop Hafner’s growth strategies, Damas involved jewelry veteran Ilaria Furlotti, a minority shareholder and chief executive officer. Furlotti founded Alfier & St. John in 1977, selling it to Damiani Group in 1998, and is a partner in the Fulvio Maria Scavia jewelry company.
The concept is to conjugate Hafner’s grand gala creativity with salability.
“We want to safeguard Hafner’s past and at the same time, optimize this relationship,” Furlotti said.
To raise brand awareness, Furlotti’s master plan includes freestanding stores, starting with the Middle East; a strong ad campaign featuring a high-profile international celebrity; a new logo and updated package in wine red and orange, and certificate cards with a photo of the piece. Furlotti’s goal is to open between four and six stores in such locations as Kuwait City, Bahrain, Qatar and Dubai, plus 10 in-store shops by yearend.
In 2006, the rollout will hit Milan, London, Tokyo and, possibly, New York.
Stefan worked gold as delicately as if he were spinning yarns. He showed intricate gold chokers with cascades of diamonds, shaped as macramé lace, and the replica of a white shirt collar buttoned by a crisscross string in white gold and featuring white and black diamonds. The swirls of white gold and diamonds were meant to resemble fuzzy Mongolian lambs.