MajorsNov 10, 2025
Jewelers Focus on Love, Joy In 2025 Holiday Campaigns Tiffany & Co., David Yurman, and Pandora have launched holiday campaigns depicting their jewelry as symbols of affection and happiness.
EditorsJul 17, 2017
Check Out the “Midnight Aqua” One Designer Debuted in Vegas
Senior Editor Brecken Branstrator delves into the story of a deep-blue gemstone on display at Graziela Gems.
This Midnight Aquamarine ring from Graziela Gems features 4.13 carats of the deep-blue stone accented with 1.6 carats of diamonds and set in 18-karat white gold ($6,650).
I got to see so many beautiful, exceptional gems at all the shows in Las Vegas, but it was on the show floor of Luxury that I saw something that really stuck with me.
On the way to an appointment with a coworker, we stopped by the Graziela Gems booth where they introduced us to a gem they were launching in a new collection--“Denim Aqua,” or, as they’re calling it now, “Midnight Aqua.”
I had seen the gemstone posted on a few other Instagram accounts and was excited to finally view it in person. The stone, sourced from Brazil, is a deep, steely blue, similar to the shades that Santa Maria aquamarine can have but with its own unique coloring like, not surprisingly given its original name, a good pair of blue jeans.
The gemstone isn’t exactly new, but the brand is bringing it to the forefront.
According to designer Graziela Kaufman, the aqua with that particular shade of blue was discovered over 100 years ago in the state of Minas Gerais, Brazil, an area already known for producing fine quality gemstones.
Its story “sounds more like a legend,” she said, and, I have to say, I don’t disagree.
According to her, the town in which the gemstone was discovered has a large population of armadillos and one day, while an armadillo was digging, he or she left a large pile of dirt on the ground.
When a farmer walked by, he noticed a beautiful blue sparkle in the middle of the dirt, which led to him discovering the deep-blue aquamarine amid the detritus.
“The armadillo has all the credit for finding the denim aqua,” Kaufman said.
The production remains very small because no one has found a vein of the deep-blue aqua. Miners can spend days around the area and only find small quantities from time to time.
“When I saw this aqua a year ago, I couldn’t believe that I didn’t know about it since it was from my native country, Brazil,” Kaufman said, “but then I found out about its history and tiny production, and it all made sense.”
Now it would appear she’s got a lock on that small supply. She said she’s very close friends with the miners in the area--working with them to
extract it in the most eco-friendly way--so as soon as they find something, she is contacted.
Graziela Gems already has trademarked the names Denim Aqua, Denim Aquamarine, and Midnight Aquamarine because “this magnificent gem deserves to have its own name and identity,” she said.
Kaufman said the price of the material is comparable to the lighter aquamarine we’re used to since they don’t come in large pieces. The largest ever found, according to her, has been about 12 carats.
She designed a 20-piece collection centered on the gemstones that was launched at Luxury by JCK. The debut was a huge success, she said, noting that the entire collection had sold by the third day of the show.
“Thankfully, I have a good amount of gems to work on new pieces and designs to be launched in the next couple of months. I feel very blessed and lucky to be able to work with a part of nature, especially when I’m able to fascinate people with something that they’ve never seen before, like this new color of aquamarine. I can’t wait for what’s coming next.”
I was told that representatives from the Gemological Institute of America also stopped by the Graziela Gems booth at the show to take a look; the company is now working directly with the lab to test the material.
I reached out to GIA for this blog post, but a spokesperson declined to comment since the lab hasn’t yet fully examined it. But from what the Graziela team has told me, they, and many others, are very excited.
No matter what’s to come for this special aquamarine, it’s always fun to stumble on a new gem and just be able to admire it for its beauty.
Graziela Gems already has trademarked the names Denim Aqua, Denim Aquamarine, and Midnight Aquamarine because “this magnificent gem deserves to have its own name and identity,” she said.
Kaufman said the price of the material is comparable to the lighter aquamarine we’re used to since they don’t come in large pieces. The largest ever found, according to her, has been about 12 carats.
She designed a 20-piece collection centered on the gemstones that was launched at Luxury by JCK. The debut was a huge success, she said, noting that the entire collection had sold by the third day of the show.
“Thankfully, I have a good amount of gems to work on new pieces and designs to be launched in the next couple of months. I feel very blessed and lucky to be able to work with a part of nature, especially when I’m able to fascinate people with something that they’ve never seen before, like this new color of aquamarine. I can’t wait for what’s coming next.”
I was told that representatives from the Gemological Institute of America also stopped by the Graziela Gems booth at the show to take a look; the company is now working directly with the lab to test the material.
I reached out to GIA for this blog post, but a spokesperson declined to comment since the lab hasn’t yet fully examined it. But from what the Graziela team has told me, they, and many others, are very excited.
No matter what’s to come for this special aquamarine, it’s always fun to stumble on a new gem and just be able to admire it for its beauty.
A post shared by National Jeweler (@nationaljeweler) on Jun 12, 2017 at 7:50am PDT
More on Editors
The Latest
SurveysNov 10, 2025
5 Things Retailers Should Know About Holiday Shoppers This YearThe National Retail Federation is bullish on the holidays, forecasting retail sales to exceed $1 trillion this year.
AuctionsNov 10, 2025
300+ Colored Diamonds Up for Auction at Christie’sLate collector Eddy Elzas assembled “The Rainbow Collection,” which is offered as a single lot and estimated to fetch up to $3 million.
Brought to you by
Roseco Releases New Full-Line CatalogRoseco’s 704-page catalog showcases new lab-grown diamonds, findings, tools & more—available in print or interactive digital editions.
IndependentsNov 07, 2025
Foundrae’s New Palm Beach Location Is a ‘Golden Solarium’The brand’s seventh location combines Foundrae’s symbolic vocabulary with motifs from Florida’s natural surroundings.
Weekly QuizNov 06, 2025
This Week’s QuizTest your jewelry news knowledge by answering these questions.
FinancialsNov 07, 2025
Watches of Switzerland’s H1 Sales Up 8%The retailer also shared an update on the impact of tariffs on watch customers.
SourcingNov 06, 2025
Pink Tourmaline Bracelet, Emerald Suite Take Top Spectrum Honors Pink and purple stones were popular in the AGTA’s design competition this year, as were cameos and ocean themes.
Brought to you by
Jewelers of America Aligns New Mission to Create Meaningful Impact for MembersFrom educational programs, advocacy, and recent MJSA affiliation, Jewelers of America drives progress that elevates businesses of all sizes.
IndependentsNov 06, 2025
Greenwich St. Jewelers Hosts Raffle Supporting Food RescueAll proceeds from the G. St x Jewel Boxing raffle will go to City Harvest, which works to end hunger in New York City.
IndependentsNov 06, 2025
Cornell’s Jewelers Names New PresidentCourtney Cornell is part of the third generation to lead the Rochester, New York-based jeweler.
SourcingNov 06, 2025
De Beers’ Production, Sales Increase in Q3 De Beers also announced more changes in its upper ranks ahead of parent company Anglo American’s pending sale of the company.
WatchesNov 05, 2025
Shinola President Steps Down Just as He Starts Former Signet CEO Mark Light will remain president of Shinola until a replacement for Ulrich Wohn is found.
AuctionsNov 05, 2025
Taylor Swift’s Engagement Ring Designer Makes Her Auction DebutKindred Lubeck of Artifex has three rings she designed with Anup Jogani in Sotheby’s upcoming Gem Drop sale.
FinancialsNov 05, 2025
Pandora Posts Modest Q3 Sales Growth Amid ‘Weak’ Consumer Sentiment The company focused on marketing in the third quarter and introduced two new charm collections, “Pandora Talisman” and “Pandora Minis.”
FinancialsNov 05, 2025
Brilliant Earth’s Q3 Sales Climb 10%The jewelry retailer raised its full-year guidance, with CFO Jeff Kuo describing the company as “very well positioned” for the holidays.
Policies & IssuesNov 04, 2025
Supreme Court to Hear Tariffs Case WednesdayAhead of the hearing, two industry organizations co-signed an amicus brief urging the court to declare Trump’s tariffs unlawful.
MajorsNov 04, 2025
Danny Clark to Become Stuller CEO, Succeeding Matt StullerStuller COO Belit Myers will take on the additional role of president, with all changes effective at the start of 2026.
ColumnistsNov 04, 2025
Peter Smith: What Do Birds Have to Do With the Price of Gold? Smith cautions retailers against expending too much energy on things they can’t control, like the rising price of gold.
TrendsNov 04, 2025
Amanda’s Style File: Fall Colors for November BirthdaysCitrine and topaz are birthstones fit for fall as the leaves change color and the holiday season approaches.
IndependentsNov 04, 2025
Weston Jewelers Heads to Fort LauderdaleThe family-owned jeweler will open its fourth store in Florida in late 2027.
CrimeNov 03, 2025
Men Dressed as Construction Workers Burglarize Jeweler’s Home The NYPD is looking for three men who stole a safe and jewelry valued at $3.2 million from the home of a jeweler in Jamaica Hills, Queens.
MajorsNov 03, 2025
Matthew Rosenheim Takes Over as JA Board ChairThe trade organization also announced its executive committee and five new directors.
CollectionsNov 03, 2025
Muse’s ‘Have a Heart’ Collab Returns, Now With DDGThe “Have a Heart x Diamonds Do Good” collection is championed by model and humanitarian Flaviana Matata and will benefit her foundation.
AuctionsNov 03, 2025
Kashmir Sapphire Ring Tops Christie's Online AuctionThe ring, set with a nearly 17-carat Kashmir cabochon sapphire, sold for $1 million.
TrendsOct 31, 2025
Piece of the Week: A Spinner Fit for ‘Frankenstein’This “Mother Father” spinner necklace from Heavenly Vices Fine Jewelry draws inspiration from Victorian Era jewelry.
CrimeOct 31, 2025
5 More Arrested in Louvre Heist, Jewelry Still Missing The suspects were rounded up in Paris and its suburbs on Wednesday night, but none of the stolen jewels were recovered with them.
Recorded WebinarsOct 31, 2025
Watch: How to Master Google Reviews for Your BusinessExperts share top tips on how to encourage positive reviews and handle negative feedback.
