ABOUT US
Our Story
MBERNARDES is a company full of history, tradition, and innovation. Its journey is linked to the pioneering spirit of the late Manoel Bernardes, who dropped out of medical school to cut and trade precious stones beginning in 1944. who dropped out of medical school to cut and trade precious stones beginning in 1944. The businessman conquered international buyers and created one of the most successful jewelry stores in Brazil, creating a strong and leading brand with a fundamental role in the development of the sector in the country and worldwide.
Following his footsteps, the founder of MBERNARDES, Marcelo Bernardes, took over the export of precious stones at a very young age. He expanded the brand all over the world, especially in Europe, the United States, and some countries in Asia, with personalized work in each location, building trust in the relationship with its clients.
The company has been operating for seven decades, with sales through visits to the main countries and a strong presence in the most important international fairs for precious stones and jewelry, as well as through its international branches worldwide.
In 2018, the Gems Division disassociated itself from Manoel Bernardes and gave rise to MBERNARDES, creating an independent structure, but within the same parameters of performance with excellence.
Thus, the company gained a new visual identity. Along with this, it was also designed to be present in the digital universe, creating a new B2B sales channel. The shop.mbernardesgems.com online store.
EXPERTS SINCE 1944
Modern for more than 70 years, MBERNARDES continues to be a Brazilian family company that cuts and trades gemstones, with a strong presence in the market since 1944. Its strength is the cutting of a wide range of high quality products coming directly from mines in Brazil and overseas. MBERNARDES is always looking for better ways to strengthen relationships with its clients and meet their needs by offering products and services with a high standard.
The company has all the modern cutting infrastructure with professional cutters with decades of experience.
Administrative and commercial departments with our own team specialized in international business, with many years of gems trading and travelling all year- round worldwide.
The company is directed by an experienced gemologist graduated from GIA, CA, USA.
Marcelo Bernardes, a mining engineer, has served for several years on the Board of ICA – International Colored Gemstone Association. It is noteworthy that he also had an expressive role as vice-president of Internationalization at IBGM, Brazilian Institute of Gems and Precious Metals. He was one of the founders and 1st President of the Gemstone Chamber of Sindijóias-MG, Brazil.
Mission
To contribute so that jewelers, manufacturers, and traders of precious stones always have the ideal gem to compose high-quality jewelry, capable of immortalizing moments and achievements of people around the world.
Values
Trust – Precision – Excellence
Tradition – Focus on Client Satisfaction
Vision
To be present in the digital gemstone market, reach new clients, grow its person to person business and ensure the longevity of the brand for the next generation. To be remembered as one of the world’s most trusted companies by its business partners in the gem and jewelry industry worldwide.
Ethical Principles
Among several principles, we highlight that MBERNARDES:
does not accept any type of child labor or work analogous to slavery, whether suppliers, service providers, or third parties;
manages its activities in an environmentally responsible manner, seeking to minimize any negative impacts;
does not purchase rough stones from mining located in conflict zones, in accordance with the OECD and the UN.
Timeline
1940 to 1950
• Beginning of the gemstone business by Mr. Manoel Bernardes in Belo Horizonte – MG (Brazil), still studying medicine, targeting local traders.
1951 to 1970
• Increasing the flow of international buyers to Brazil after World War II;
• Opening of the Lapidação Minas Gerais company, with in-house customized cutting equipment;
• Mr. Manoel Bernardes is one of the co-founders and President of AJOMIG, Association of Jewelers, Businessmen of Precious Stones, Watches, and Bijoux of Minas Gerais in 1964.
1971 to 1980
• Opening of the company Organizações Manoel Bernardes Ltda. with modern cutting facilities and worldclass sales offices, located at Rua Espírito Santo, 835;
• Celebrated as one of the most important gemstone wholesalers and exporters in Brazil;
• Exhibition at the first Fenap. National Precious Stones Fair in Governador Valadares;
• Unexpected death of founder and general manager, Mr. Manoel Bernardes, at age 56 in 1975;
• Entry of the 2nd Generation into the business in 1975, under the leadership of Mrs. Jacira Bernardes and the sons Manoel and Paulo;
• Marcelo Bernardes starts working as an apprentice at the company at the age of 15 in 1977
• Founding of IBGM (Brazilian Institute of Gems and Precious Metals) in 1977, with Organizações Manoel Bernardes being one of the founding companies.
1981 to 1990
• Marcelo Bernardes graduated as a gemologist at the GIA (Gemological Institute of America) in the USA in 1981 and made his first international trip to sell cut stones in New York, USA in 1982;
• First participation in an international gem show abroad in Tucson, AZ (USA) in 1985;
• Inauguration of the first overseas office in NYC in 1987, aimed mainly at the sale of calibrated stones in large volumes;
• Marcelo Bernardes becomes a member of the ICA (International Colored Gemstone Association) in 1988;
• Exhibition at the HK Gem and Jewelry Show for the first time in 1989;
• Mrs. Jacira Bernardes, president and matriarch, dies at the age of 61 in January 1989.
1991 to 2000
• Inauguration in 1993 of the first office in Asia in Bangkok (Thailand) for the sale of rough and cut stones;
• Marcelo becomes the ICA Ambassador in Brazil in 1993;
• In 1994 the company receives the Profile Award as the largest exporter in Minas Gerais;
• Inauguration of the new world headquarters building on Avenida do Contorno 5417 in Belo Horizonte;
• Marcelo becomes the director for Brazil at the ICA from 1995 to 2003, serving on the Executive Board as Secretary;
• ICA Congress in BH in 1997, with Marcelo Bernardes as Chairman. This was the 1st ICA Congress in Latin America.
2001 to 2010
• Opening of the Representative Office in HK for the sales of rough stones to Mainland China in 2003;
• Entrance into the Mainland China market for high value cut stones in 2008.
2011 to 2023
• Consolidation of the Chinese market as the world’s largest consumer of high-quality cut stones, especially green tourmaline and rubellite in 2011;
• Opening in 2019 of the company MBERNARDES, 100% owned by Marcelo Bernardes, with the entire team of employees coming from MB and opening of its new headquarters in Belo Horizonte – MG. Beginning of a new era in the tradition of the Bernardes Family in the field of precious stones since 1944;
• Covid 19 pandemic, paralyzing all international travel and fairs. Beginning of the intensification of internet trading. Period 2019 ~2022
• Restart in 2022 of international trips for face-to-face sales travelling and participation in fairs in the USA and Europe; China still closed in quarantine;
• Presentation in 2023 of the new visual identity of the company MBERNARDES;
• Launch in 2023 of our B2B virtual store, together with the institutional website.
