• As a practical response to the challenges of economic development and adding value to national raw materials, the jewellery brand MariaRuby officially entered the Mozambican market at an exclusive event held at the Radisson Blu Hotel (Torres Rani) in Maputo.

MariaRuby, a jewellery brand founded in 2022, officially entered the Mozambican market with the presentation of 250 different pieces, made with natural gemstones from Mozambique and other sources. The initiative aims to enhance the value of the country’s mineral resources through creativity, technical knowledge and local identity.

In an interview with Forbes África Lusófona on the occasion of the launch, Cheila Gomes, the brand’s founder, said the initiative represented the fulfilment of a vision shaped by her connection to Mozambique and her professional experience in the extractive sector.

According to Cheila, the project aims to contribute to greater appreciation of precious stones by promoting their transformation into jewellery and encouraging the development of specialised skills in the country.

She argued that passing on knowledge acquired abroad, combined with training in gemstone cutting, could help create skilled jobs, expand opportunities for young people and allow a greater share of the value generated by mineral resources to remain in the Mozambican economy.

One of MariaRuby’s priorities is to develop technical expertise in gemstone processing, particularly in cutting, which is considered important for adding value to precious stones before they are sold.

The brand’s founder stressed that developing these skills in Mozambique could help strengthen the jewellery production chain and create opportunities for professionals interested in specialising in this segment.

One of the main challenges, she added, is ensuring quality and consistency throughout the entire production process, from the selection of the stones to the final finishing of the pieces.

However, she noted that the nature of gemstones requires specific care, since each stone has its own characteristics and needs appropriate techniques to preserve its qualities and bring out its aesthetic potential.

In this context, vocational training and mastery of specialised techniques are identified as essential factors in developing a more competitive jewellery industry in Mozambique.

For Cheila, the choice of Mozambique for MariaRuby’s official market entry is linked to her personal and professional connection to the country, where she worked for several years in the extractive sector.

That experience allowed her to gain first-hand knowledge of the richness and potential of Mozambican gemstones, reinforcing her conviction that there is room to develop local skills, produce jewellery and project internationally the identity associated with the country’s precious stones.

Founded in 2022, the brand went through a period of development and consolidation before proceeding with this official presentation. As she explained, entering the Mozambican market required a consistent offering, underpinned by product quality and a long-term growth outlook.

“The strategy now is to bring the brand closer to Mozambican consumers and establish partnerships that contribute to adding value to gemstones and training professionals,” she said.

International ambitions and sustainable growth

MariaRuby also intends to expand its presence in other markets, maintaining an expansion strategy based on partnerships and reaching audiences that value the quality of its pieces, the origin of the precious stones and the brand’s identity.

The founder stressed, however, that the priority is to ensure solid and sustainable growth, consolidating the company’s presence before moving into new geographical markets.

With the presentation of the 250 pieces, the brand sought to demonstrate the diversity of natural gemstones and the possibilities for transforming them into jewellery, using stones from Mozambique and other sources.

The expectation is that the launch will serve as a starting point for new commercial opportunities and training and skills-development initiatives, helping to bring Mozambique’s mineral wealth closer to the production of higher value-added goods.

Economic sovereignty, impact and industry transition

The vision behind MariaRuby is led by Cheila Gomes, founder and creative director. With more than 17 years of experience in management and marketing and a 12-year career in the extractive sector, including eight years in Mozambique, where she headed Public Relations at the world’s largest ruby mine, the entrepreneur has drawn on her industry knowledge to build a brand that brings together sustainability, ethics and African cultural identity.

“Adding value to our mineral resources is not merely a macroeconomic goal; it is a matter of sovereignty and national economic dignity. For years, I watched the value of our precious stones being captured beyond our borders. MariaRuby was created to prove that it is possible to retain this knowledge in Mozambique, create skilled jobs for our young people and give back to the country, in the form of art and finished products, the wealth of our land,” Cheila Gomes said during her address.

In addition to marketing exclusive jewellery featuring Mozambican and international natural gemstones, the business project also has a social and educational impact dimension. Among the initiatives under way is a training programme in traditional gemstone cutting, developed in partnership with international academic institutions, such as the University of Aveiro in Portugal, with the aim of equipping young Mozambicans with skills and reviving qualifications that are at risk of disappearing.

The launch event at the Radisson Hotel brought together political decision-makers, diplomats, businesspeople and prominent figures from Mozambican society. The programme included presentations of the brand’s jewellery collections, demonstrations of the ethical gemstone traceability process and discussions on the future of the country’s mineral processing industry.

About MariaRuby

MariaRuby is a jewellery brand of Portuguese-Mozambican origin, focused on creating exclusive pieces in precious metals and natural gemstones with certified origins. Founded in 2022 by Cheila Gomes, the brand combines the precision of international jewellery-making with narratives inspired by African culture, nature and feminine strength.


Source: Forbes África Lusófona / MariaRuby Press Release