Meet Debra
If you ask her, Debra will tell you that diamonds were her first love. Little did she know as a young girl, mesmerized by the beauty of gems, that she would one day become an award-winning, fine jewelry designer. Her designs are truly works of art and her passion for gemstones is unrivaled.
As with most great love stories, her journey into the jewelry industry began with a touch of serendipity. After receiving her degree in Communications from Texas A&M, Debra landed a side job doing voice work for a jewelry store. That was the spark that ignited a shift. She found herself at life’s Crossroads.
They say that if you love what you do, you never work a day in your life. Debra quickly found that to be true after landing a job with a jewelry store. It wasn’t long before she committed herself to earning her Graduate Gemologist degree from the Gemological Institute of America, then going on to earn her Certified Gemologist Appraiser accreditation from the American Gem Society.
Wanting to further immerse herself in the world of gems, she shifted focus to supplier responsibility with a desire to understand how and where gemstones are mined and the processes that govern responsible sourcing. She happened upon a documentary called “Sharing the Rough.” This powerful film, capturing the life of a gemstone from earth to art, led her to connect with the Dery family, who later founded Gem Legacy. The next thing she knew, she was on a plane to Africa.
The trip transformed her from the inside out. She expected to learn everything about how the gems are mined and then brought to market. What she didn’t expect was to fall in love with the people of the mining communities. It was nothing short of a cataclysmic awakening. She saw the opportunity to combine her natural artistic abilities, these beautiful gemstones and partner with 501c3 non-profits to provide real support to the mining communities. She was compelled to take a Leap of Faith, trust her vision and launch her own line of fine jewelry with purpose and impact at its heart.
With a refined organic aesthetic inspired by her Texas roots, Debra designs for the strong, modern, independent who chases dreams with polish and grit. Her collections are expressions of her soul. The Barefoot Collection is inspired by the Texas landscape where she was raised and reflects life’s journey. Her next collection was inspired by the people of the African mining communities, and is aptly named Watu – the Swahili word meaning “people.” The Watu Collection has a distinct flavor of the earth, its people and its beauty. Her Endure Collection represents deep respect and care for our planet, and is a love letter to diamonds and gold with a hexagon motif. She created the Tusk Collection being inspired watching wild elephants at play in their natural habitat in Africa.
She truly loves working directly with customers to create custom jewelry. Her Bridal designs are gorgeous and unique to fit every bride’s dreamy vision of their “forever” ring. She’s been able to take an “ordinary” object and turn it into beautiful wearable art that has deep meaning for the customer. There is nothing off limits when it comes to our customization. Debra not only loves making these creations, she’s fantastic at it.
Today, Debra and her family live in Wichita, KS. She serves on the Gem Legacy Advisory Council, the Ethical Metalsmiths Advisory Council and is a member of The American Gem Society. Debra Navarro & Co make donations to Gem Legacy and to Sheldrick Wildlife Trust, both making positive impacts in the African mining communities.
Debra loves sharing her passion with others and wants to be your jeweler for life, not just for one day. She is committed to our customers and to providing an amazing customer experience while you’re shopping, wearing and loving jewelry by Debra Navarro & Co.
