Like a natural pearl that assumes its stunning form in the dark recesses of an oyster shell, the skills and finesse of the team behind the sensational Hodel brand was honed over long years spent in the wholesale business of loose pearls and pearl jewellery, writes Stephen Rego.

A little less than three decades ago, Rene Hodel fell in love.
Sent to Japan by the Lausanne based jewellery company that he worked for, the young executive was captivated by a silky, soft beauty that he encountered. The initial spark of romance soon developed into a fascination that was to dominate the rest of his life.

"I knew right away that was where my passion belonged the minute I held those pearls in my hands. They were so beautiful, I was captivated," says Hodel, who in little or no time had decided to shift his base to Hong Kong from where he could pursue his new found love.

It was a decision that eventually gave birth to a captivating luxury brand, Hodel, whose sensuous jewellery now adorns women in different corners of the world and is available to consumers through a network of retail partners across different continents and countries.

But this latter segment of Hodel’s journey began only 2005, almost a quarter of a century after the flames of a romance were first ignited in his heart. After his first introduction to its lustrous wonder in 1981, Rene Hodel turned his attention to learning everything there was about pearls.

Having been born in Switzerland, and spent his formative years in a culture that is renowned for its master craftsmanship and meticulous attention to detail, and is recognized for its rich artistic heritage, Rene learnt as he worked. He slowly deepened his knowledge, refining his ideas and gathering inspiration for the crucial leap he was to take some years later. From South Sea to Tahitian to Akoya and Freshwater pearls, he carefully assimilated information and skills, and soon began to sell the most classic examples of this natural wonder to select outlets around the world. In no time he gained recognition as one of the best distributors for fine quality loose pearls and pearl strands.

In 1986 Rene Hodel became a shareholder and Managing Director of the Asia Pacific region for a well known German pearl company.

Under him, the business in loose pearls developed rapidly. Hodel built contacts with some of the most unique pearl farms in the region, offering his customers an assured supply of beautiful specimens across different categories of pearls. Each piece came from a trusted supplier, which helped provide a guarantee of both authenticity and quality. The wide network of sources also meant that the company was able to offer stable supply as well as address varied demands from customers -- whether it was large volumes that were required, or rare special items of particular sizes, shapes or lustre.

By 2005, Rene Hodel was ready for his next leap, which began when he acquired control over the German company, renaming it and transforming it into the now well known brand Hodel. The renamed company rapidly developed on its vast years of experience as a wholesale supplier of loose pearls and pearl jewellery to launch its own eponymous signature brand which soon took the jewellery world by storm.

Backed by a team that possesses a wealth of experience and knowledge in a multitude of areas related to pearls, Hodel was quickly acknowledged as an exclusive jewellery brand. Each piece of finely sculpted jewellery combined the owner’s nascent love of precision craftsmanship with his passion for the product, and brought to life the magical essence of the world’s finest pearls.

Why the fascination with pearls, one wonders? Hodel answers in an instant, “Pearls are purified, dazzling and glamorous, exuding an undertoned elegance with charming sensuality. And we work to transform them into amazing creations.”

They are all creations that epitomize the Hodel brand promise – “Pearls - made by nature, nurtured by man.”

As a pioneer in the pearl jewellery industry, Hodel takes pains to ensure that only the highest graded pearls, be it in terms of colour, quality or shape, are made into jewellery.

He chooses the perfect product, while wife Linda and the team she heads “fashion the most extraordinary designs that are made just for that particular piece of pearl."

Elaborating on the need for careful selection and creative design, Hodel says, “The most amazing thing about pearls is that every individual piece has its own character and flair. Our aim is to bring out these characters in pearls and enhance them through our designs. So we work our designs around the pearls, not the other way round.

The result – each piece of jewellery, predominantly handmade by a team of expert craftsmen, is at once graceful and playful, blending beauty and art with a commitment to the highest levels of quality.

How is a Hodel piece different from other pearl jewellery manufacturers, we wonder? “Unlike most pearl jewellers, we emphasise quality, expertise and fine craftsmanship rather than heritage and pearl originality. Our focus is the aesthetic appeal of the piece of jewellery and its ability to enhance the sensuality and beauty of the wearer,” says Hodel.

"Moreover,” he adds, “Pearl is ultimately a most feminine piece of jewellery. The individual characteristic of pearls speaks for a woman."

The 25 years of wholesale experience in the pearl jewellery market, give the company an added advantage – their deep grasp over the various trends and consumer requirements of different market segments. Based on this, the design team has developed six different sub-brands that cater to our various target markets -- Fine Jewellery, Couture Jewellery, Signature Collection, Bridal Collection, Young Line and Be My Pearl.

“Every individual ornament carries with it the adventure, a history and a story, unique only to pearls,” says Hodel.

The Signature collection is a characteristic Hodel -- boldly fashioned, yet delicately feminine, using flawless queen pearls, these iconic pieces have become instantly recognisable.

This year, Hodel has specially designed two smart and elegant jewellery pieces – a ring and a earring. Each piece is made with 750 rose gold, adorned with dazzling diamonds and brown diamonds to deliver a timeless charisma. A translucent and sparkling South Sea pearl is surrounded by a flower-shaped frame which resembles a blooming flower.

In the last few years, Hodel has tied up with premium retailers in different countries who share their belief and commitment to the core values of the brand. “They help us reach out to the end customers,” explains Hodel, “and so we provide them comprehensive sales and marketing support that stretches from product certificates and window display materials to advertisements and launch event support, guaranteeing consistency and elegance in all of our promotions.”

The extra effort that this entails has paid dividends – lifting a beautiful product to the status of a luxury brand.

What next, we query? “When we started in 2005, we had a team of 10 and this has now grown to 25. We have spread to Hong Kong, Europe, Malaysia, Japan, China, Taiwan,” says Hodel. “And we are now busy researching the next country we wish to target – India.”