GOLD Standard

Pride of a nation: Retracing the steps of Habib since 1958.

- NIKITA NAWAWI

When an enterprising Habib Mohamed decided to open his very first store, a small workshop along Penang’s illustrious “Jeweller’s Corner” on Pitt Street, the determined go-getter brought with him an astute comprehension of real customer needs—following his stint at another retailer where he played the long game and worked his way up from an assistant to a participating partner.

That deep understanding prompted him to take the road less travelled. At a time when gold was par for the course, the visionary went after an untapped market as he turned his attention to diamonds. It was a power move that laid the foundation for the brand and set it apart from its contemporaries. That dare-to-be-different philosophy still resonates with present-day Habib under the stewardship of Dato’ Sri Meer Sadik, the heir of the empire.

“I used to help my father weigh the jewellery pieces on the old-school dacing,” says the Group Executive Chairman as he retraces his steps to discovering the art of jewellery making. It all began at a time when his family was living in a shophouse. The young Meer would every so often lend a hand at the store after coming across and being fascinated by precious gemstones in a variety of colours and designs.