Her Grandfather Discovered The World’s Largest Aquamarine & Now She’s Designing The Most Beautiful Jewelry (Win!)

Cyntia Miglio is a Toronto-based talent so fierce, and with a story so interesting, we had to hit her up for a Q&A. The jewelry designer, originally from Brazil, takes design to heart, researching every single piece deeply before diving in to the manufacturing process. She’s also firmly focused on sustainability, and creating jewelry that’s high-quality, unique and expressive. And, her grandfather was the discoverer of the most-famous and sought-after aquamarine in history—the 134-pound Martha Rocha aquamarine! Read our interview below, and enter for a chance to win! —Noa Nichol

Hi Cyntia! Please tell us a bit about yourself to start.

I’m a multidisciplinary jewellery designer originally from Brazil. I moved to Toronto 15 years ago to pursue an international career in design. I have a passion for creativity and have always enjoyed expressing myself through art, painting and jewellery design. After working in the luxury industry for 10 years, I decided to take the plunge and start my brand, Cyntia Miglio Jewellery. It quickly became my full-time venture, and I haven’t looked back since! My designs are inspired by my travels, nature, architecture and film. I love incorporating different elements into my pieces to create unique jewellery. Before designing any new collection, I always make sure to do my research. I want to understand the subject matter on a deeper level to create something truly unique. My curiosity is what drives my passion for design. I love taking a concept and making it into something modern and cool. It’s so rewarding to see my creative vision come to life. I started a VERDE project two years ago to make sustainability more accessible and stylish. We focus on two strategic priorities: Creative Circularity and Transparency of our products. Our team is dedicated to creating sustainable fashion that is stylish and ethical.

What spurred your love/passion for jewelry-making/design?

My passion for jewellery design began when I was very young. I would spend hours researching different designers and looking at their work on the Internet. I was fascinated by the various gemstones and how they were used in different designs. I started to collect gems and appreciate their beauty. As I grew older, my passion for jewellery design grew stronger. I became more interested in the technical aspects of design and how different materials could be used to create beautiful jewellery pieces. When I started taking jewellery-making classes, I was immediately drawn to wirework in 14k gold. There was something about the material that just felt right in my hands. Maybe it was the curiosity that came with working with a new medium, or perhaps the challenge of bringing my design ideas to life in a new way. Whatever the reason, I quickly fell in love with gold wirework, and it has become a signature part of my aesthetic. You’ll see pearls wrapped in 14k gold-filled wires in many of my collections. It’s a look that is both delicate and strong, and it perfectly captures the craftsmanship and artistry that goes into my work.

When and why did you launch Cyntia Miglio Design? What niche were/are you aiming to fill in the jewelry space?

I launched Cyntia Miglio Jewellery in 2016; it was with the need to put all my ideas out there. For years, I worked in jobs that stifled my creativity, and it was slowly killing me. But then, a series of events put things into perspective, and I realized that I wanted to live a creative life. So, I took the leap and started my brand. From the beginning, I’ve been focused on craftsmanship and quality. It’s vital that every piece is created with care and attention to detail. Our brand is all about ideas. We believe that creativity and ingenuity should be celebrated, and that’s why we offer handcrafted, one-of-a-kind pieces made in small batches. Our products are for people who appreciate exclusivity and uniqueness and who know themselves well enough to seek out pieces that reflect their style. We’re here to fill a space in the market for high-quality and creative products.

There’s also a fascinating jewelry story about your grandfather, one of Brazil’s major gemstone merchants and discovered the most valuable aquamarine of all time! Can you tell us more about that?

One of the most inspiring stories I know is that of my grandfather, an Italian immigrant who made a new life for himself in Brazil. Together with his brother, my grandfather worked hard as a gemstone merchant, selling precious stones to well-known high jewellery brands worldwide. Although he did very well for himself, he was extremely humble. My grandfather made quite a discovery back in the 1950s. He found the most famous and most sought-after aquamarine in history, known today as the Martha Rocha aquamarine. This massive gemstone weighed 134 pounds and yielded an impressive 300,000 carats of blue gems. The Martha Rocha is so highly prized for its unique colour: a rich, intense blue that can’t be found anywhere else. Even now, the Martha Rocha is still considered one of the finest- colour aquamarines in existence. It’s no wonder that this precious gemstone is now housed in the Washington Museum of Natural History and coveted by private collectors worldwide. Indeed, the Martha Rocha aquamarine is a one-of-a-kind find that my grandfather—and our family—will always be proud of.

That said, you are an incredibly talented jewelry maker in your own right; what inspires your designs, what products do you currently offer, and what makes them so unique?

Thank you! My work is heavily inspired by contemporary art, modern Brazilian architecture and ocean elements. I strive to create unique and intricate pieces that are aesthetically pleasing and meaningful. I believe that the level of customization we offer our clients is what makes our brand so special. We love working with natural diamonds, handcrafted pearls and gemstones. Our pieces are locally made by artisans with a creative and sustainable approach. We believe that our website is a place where you can either purchase something or send us an idea for exclusive pieces. The possibilities are endless, and we think this embodies what luxury and craftsmanship mean—giving clients the chance to dream within our aesthetics.

What are some of your current bestsellers, and what have been your favourite pieces to design?

Our current bestsellers are our Starlight diamond studs, Mini Hoops and our Hoya Ring. I enjoyed designing our STAR|LIGHT collection, I loved working with diamonds and pearls and from the outsourcing process to bringing the ideas to life with the help of skilled local artisans. I had a lot of fun designing F|O|R|M (2018) and KAKTOS (2019) collections. They translate the core of my work and pay homage to contemporary design.

So, what’s next for Cyntia Miglio Jewellery?

We are focusing on offering a luxury experience to our clients. We are outsourcing exquisite materials and bringing them into Canada. We aim to provide unique pieces that the Canadian market hasn’t seen before, such as unique gemstones and a new approach to rings. Stay tuned!

cyntiamiglio.com

Win! Cyntia Miglio’s Bestselling ILHA Hoops!

Congrats Erin H. of North Vancouver, BC, who will receive a $170 pair of Cyntia Miglio’s Bestselling ILHA Hoops! Please note: if you are the winner, you will receive a DM (direct message) in Instagram directly from @vitadaily.ca. Please be wary of fake accounts, which often use similar handles with an extra or missing letter, number or symbol. We will never ask for a payment or for your credit card number, and we will never ask you to click through a link. If you are unsure whether you have been contacted, via Instagram, by us or a fake account, email us before responding.