It’s not every day that you hit the luck to visit and see a model jewelry factory where production is based on state-of-the-art technology. BaselPreziose, a jewelry manufacturer with more than 33 years of experience under its belt, has opened one of its factories in Sao Paolo, Brazil. The owners decided to invest into a top-notch jewelry factory and pulled it off 100%.
Commercial director Rubens Coronho arranged a tour, during which we talked about the specifics of high-quality jewelry making.
The BaselPreziose factory is located in the downtown of Sao Paulo, a multi-million metropolis, occupying a famous historical building which is over 120 years old and was one of the first constructed in the old city. The factory occupies three floors 550 square meters each, giving workspace for 123 employees.
But it should be noted at once that the factory is using a good number of modern equipment, which saves working hours. Every stage of production has its own machine in operation: they cut gems, set them in jewelry pieces, develop designs, cast gold, determine the quality of stones - most of such machines are made in Germany. These machines help to make the production process much easier and in the long run turn out top-quality goods.
Rubens begins the tour from the Sorting Room, the first one on the way, where stones are selected for jewelry manufacturing in accordance with production requirements. The factory is producing various jewellery using different gems, including rubies, sapphires, emeralds, diamonds, etc., as well as all types of gold.
After the big manufacturing workshop we enter the Creation Room, where six young designers are creating models on the screens of modern tablets. Trying to improve forms they issue a new detail or idea almost every minute. This team makes up to 100 different designs of products a month, 1200 designs and three jewelry collections a year. Trained designers are following the latest trends and pick up different styles for specific markets, for example, demand in the Asian market is very different from demand in the Brazilian market. Thanks to this prudent approach factory representatives visit up to 14 jewelry shows a year.
In the polishing workshop we met six young cutters, who were trained and learned everything here, at the factory - they were trained the way it was need for production purposes.
The most important point of interest and a favorite destination for all visitors is the Showing Room, where wholesale buyers spend a lot of time. Here you can see a huge selection of different models of jewelry pieces graced with various precious and semi-precious stones and diamonds set in white, yellow and red 14- and 18-carat gold. At the same time a large number of orders the factory gets online. The room is full of wall and table displays and hundreds of samples are very reasonably laid out for display, which absolutely does not make you feel any over-abundance depressing you by its brilliance. Besides, the factory has 4 signature stores in San Paolo.
The director also showed the working room of factory photographer, where they shoot photos for catalogs; the room where they prepare parcels for shipment; the accounting department, the owner’s gym, his conference room and beautiful stylish office, where the central place is taken by the latest version of Japanese coffee machine snorting out the most delicious espresso.
What is the working schedule of your employees?
The operating schedule we have developed is so convenient that it allows workers not get tired and at the same time not to stop the process. Working day starts at 7:00 a.m. Starting from 8:30 every hour 10 people go for tea break for 15 minutes, and then other 10 people, etc. Of course, all of them go for lunch from 12:00 to 13:00. We have organized a comfortable dining area with furnished with microwaves and TV, where workers can have a rest during lunch time. Initially, we planned to prepare food directly at the factory, but the workers chose to receive extra money for food. Thus, they have to buy something and bring here, warm up and make tea or coffee.
Two times a month we do a "Pop Corn Day" for our employees, that day we show movies in our theater specially equipped for these cases. The demonstration schedule is posted in advance on the Facebook. On this day, all employees get free popcorn or hot dogs. This usually happens at the end of the working day after 18:00 p.m.
We also have library, to stimulate people to get education and theoretical knowledge needed for production.
What other social benefits do you offer to your staff?
We also give additional money for transport and social security. At the end of the year they all receive production bonuses. Sometime it happens on a monthly basis.
If the company terminates the contract, the employee receives an average two-month salary.
Brazil has a multi-million population and the country’s birth rate is also not that small. What benefits can get women going on maternity leaves?
The Brazilian law is not completely protecting the rights of pregnant women. Previously, according to the law, women could go on maternity leaves a month before the childbirth and 4 months after they had to go back to work. Now, this term was extended to 6 months.
What is the average salary of your employees?
The majority of medium-level employees receive about USD 1,000 (BRL 2,000) per month.
Are there any plans to enter the European market?
Of course we are very interested, but we are waiting for a better moment to enter the European market and be there different. Our Brazilian women love to wear a lot of accessories, big and colorful jewelry, that is why about 90% of 
our products goes to Brazilian market, about 10% goes to Latin American markets, and a small part we sell to Canada.
Thank you, Rubens, for such an exclusive tour. What we saw is really beyond all expectations. Your factory is a worthy leader of quality manufacturing. What are your plans for the future?
The top line in our plans is occupied by the need for further expansion of our production area and a possible 50-percent increase in the number of work seats. I wish a productive year to all jewelry manufacturers.
Veronica Novoselova, Rough&Polished, from Brazil
