A major feature published by DN Brasil, the Brazilian edition of Portugal’s historic newspaper Diário de Notícias, takes readers deep beneath the surface of Itabira, Minas Gerais, to explore the journey of a Belmont emerald—from its geological origin to its place in international high jewelry.
Published online and as a two-page illustrated feature in the newspaper’s July 6, 2026 print edition, “From Darkness to Brilliance: Inside the Journey of Emeralds in Itabira” follows journalist João Almeida Moreira approximately 150 meters underground at the Belmont mine.
Described by DN Brasil as the world’s largest underground emerald mine, Belmont becomes the setting for a story connecting geology, family history, advanced mining technology, human expertise, traceability, and contemporary jewelry design.
A Story That Began in 1978
The feature revisits the origins of Belmont Emeralds and the unexpected discovery that transformed a family property into one of the world’s most significant emerald operations.
In 1978, Mauro Ribeiro returned to the Belmont farm in Itabira after being advised to rest. While creating a pond for cattle, green stones emerged from the earth; an unexpected discovery that would transform the future of the family property.
What began as a chance discovery became a long-term family undertaking. Across generations, Belmont developed from a pioneering operation into a modern emerald producer built around expertise, responsible practices, and technological innovation.
Today, the company is led by CEO Marcelo Ribeiro, Mauro Ribeiro’s grandson, continuing a story that remains closely connected to both family and place.
Inside the Belmont Mine
DN Brasil’s visit offers readers a rare look inside Belmont’s underground operation.
The report follows the journey through tunnels carved into the rock beneath Itabira, where geologists, engineers, equipment operators, and miners work together to identify and recover emerald-bearing material.
Emeralds are created under exceptional geological conditions. Their green color results from the presence of chromium within beryl—but bringing those elements together in nature requires an extraordinary sequence of geological events.
Finding the emerald is only the beginning.
After extraction, the material travels to Belmont’s processing facilities, where specialized teams separate, examine, and classify the gemstones. Each stage requires experience and precision, while modern technology supports operational safety, consistency, and control.
As Marcelo Ribeiro explained to DN Brasil, approximately 800 to 1,000 tonnes of ore are extracted each day. According to the report, only around 5% of the mine’s total emerald production is classified as high quality, while approximately 0.3% reaches the “super quality” category. These figures underscore the extraordinary rarity of truly exceptional natural emeralds.
The People Behind Every Emerald
One of the most compelling elements of the DN Brasil feature is its attention to the people whose knowledge makes the journey possible.
The article introduces members of Belmont’s team working underground and throughout the production process—from geological interpretation and mine development to sorting and the evaluation of each stone’s potential.
This human expertise cannot be separated from the beauty of the finished emerald. Every gemstone is connected to many hands, disciplines, and decisions long before it reaches a designer’s studio.
That connection is central to Belmont’s understanding of provenance. Traceability is more than identifying where a gemstone originated; it preserves the relationship between the emerald, the land, and the people responsible for bringing it to light.
A Global Journey with a Traceable Origin
The newspaper also follows Belmont emeralds beyond Itabira, revealing how a distinctly Brazilian natural resource enters an international network of expertise.
Selected rough emeralds are offered to the global market through Belmont’s tenders in Bangkok, an important center of the colored gemstone trade. Many continue onward to Jaipur, internationally recognized for its generations of knowledge in emerald cutting and polishing.
From Brazil to Thailand and India—and ultimately to jewelry ateliers and collectors around the world—the gemstone may cross continents, but its origin remains unchanged.
For Belmont, preserving that origin throughout the supply chain is essential. Traceability allows jewelers and clients to connect the finished gemstone with the mine, people, and practices behind it.
From Brazilian Origin to International High Jewelry
The story then moves from the world of mining and gemstones to international jewelry design.
DN Brasil highlights Brazilian designer Márcio Granatowicz and the Emerald Lake collection, created with Belmont emeralds. The project connects the natural character of the stones with contemporary Brazilian design and is expected to reach the international stage at the 2027 INHORGENTA Awards in Munich.
The contrast is striking: an emerald discovered deep beneath the landscape of Minas Gerais eventually becomes part of a finished jewel presented before an international audience.
Yet these two worlds are not separate. The beauty seen in the final piece carries the story of its origin—the geology of Itabira, the knowledge of Belmont’s team, and the creativity of the artisans and designers who reveal the gemstone’s character.
A More Transparent Vision of Luxury
Modern luxury is increasingly defined not only by rarity and beauty, but also by knowledge, authenticity, and responsibility.
Belmont emeralds are supplied with guaranteed provenance and traceability, allowing their journey to remain visible from the mine to the market. This transparency gives designers, jewelers, and clients a deeper understanding of the gemstone they have chosen.
For Belmont, an emerald’s origin is not a detail. It is part of its identity and value.
We thank DN Brasil and journalist João Almeida Moreira for visiting Itabira and sharing this journey with readers in Portugal, Brazil, and beyond.
Read the complete DN Brasil feature in Portuguese.
DN Brasil visited Belmont at the invitation of Belmont Emeralds and ART’G.