A Dialogue Between Gems and Emotion

A fusion of modern minimalism, vintage romanticism, and traditional soul defines the aesthetic of Ingrata Fortuna, the Mexican jewelry brand founded by Roxana del Valle, which takes customization to the next level. Each piece becomes a visual testament to life’s most meaningful moments, transforming jewelry into a deeply personal artifact.

Bold, unique, and forward-thinking—these are the three words Roxana uses to describe the brand she launched with the belief that jewelry is more than adornment: it’s a conduit for magical energy. Fueled by personal experience and a well of inspiration, she infuses each design with emotion and narrative.

What artistic and cultural influences shape Ingrata Fortuna’s aesthetic?

The modern architecture of masters like Frank Lloyd Wright, classical artworks, Art Nouveau, and the reinterpretation of antique and mid-century jewelry are my greatest inspirations.

How do you infuse your passion for life into each piece?

For our ready-to-wear collections, I draw from chapters of my life that have taught me something or moved me deeply—breakups, travels, meaningful characters, personal transformations, and most recently, my pregnancy. These moments intertwine with how a muse—real or imagined—might experience them. While our collections share a unifying look and feel, they evolve continuously to avoid creative stagnation.

When creating custom pieces, how do you capture a client’s personality?

Over the years, we’ve developed a methodology that begins with truly getting to know our clients. We build a relationship, seeking to understand what brought them to us and what they wish to express. From these conversations, the creative process begins—each one unfolds differently. Clients often share milestones from their love stories, and we’ve refined key questions over the past eight years to uncover the emotional heart of every piece. Despite having a process, each project becomes entirely unique.

Gemstones are central to your designs. How do you choose and work with them to ensure each piece has a unique meaning?

Gems are everything to me—they are the reason I do what I do. For the past five years, I’ve had the chance to source stones directly from international fairs and specialized dealers, sometimes by recommendation, sometimes by knocking on doors. From there, I curate a selection of over 1,200 stones available in-store, allowing clients to choose their gem with intention.

Because we import and work with an expansive network of global suppliers, we can also source specific stones on demand, making the experience even more personal. This search is a meticulous process—the right stone becomes the protagonist of the story, and finding it requires exploring many candidates, which we share with the client.

It’s important to note that our artisans and entire team are fairly compensated, with a focus on creating a dignified work environment without compromising on quality or competitive pricing.

How do you merge contemporary character with traditional essence to create timeless pieces?

We aim to design jewelry that is timeless in both quality and design. I truly believe classics become classics through elegance, and maintaining that elegance is key. To me, elegance is more about subtle details than visual excess.

How has your original vision for the brand evolved?

I’ve become more committed to creating from the heart and finding distinct ways to stand out. That’s why Ingrata Fortuna continues to set trends in Mexico’s jewelry scene. We’re always exploring new ways to connect with clients beyond the conventional. After a successful project with Nike seven years ago, we introduced in-store piercings, which became a huge hit. We also brought a piece of my gem sourcing journey into the boutique—displaying over 2,000 emeralds for clients to explore and select, along with our signature salt and pepper diamonds.

What has been the biggest challenge in building your own business?

For me, it’s been mental health—learning to manage crises and hard moments in the healthiest way possible has been a constant lesson. Nothing works unless we’re well from within. Building a strong and reliable team comes next—learning to delegate and lead with order and integrity.

What keeps you innovating and releasing new collections?

The wonder of life itself, and how it surprises me every day. I feel a constant need to express how I feel during key moments—that’s what drives the creation.

Can you share a particularly meaningful story behind one of your pieces?

The first engagement ring I ever made was for my older sister. At the time, I was running the brand solo, so it was my first full experience managing the design process independently—meeting with clients, suppliers, and artisans. Creating that ring with my brother-in-law was incredibly meaningful, both personally and professionally. Its narrative resonated so deeply that people started reaching out to have their own love stories turned into jewelry. That was the beginning of a very special niche for the brand. The rest is history.

What’s next for Ingrata Fortuna?

We’re preparing to open international offices in key strategic locations. At the same time, our workshop is expanding rapidly, and along with sister brands, we’ve started selling raw materials to wholesalers. We’re also working on opening a second store with a curated selection of pieces, and launching a secondary line of engagement rings for a major commercial retailer in Mexico. I also have my eyes on the Riviera Maya as a future step.

Interview by: Ainhoa García