Events & Awards

Morais x Basha Collaboration to Debut at Couture

Events & AwardsMay 27, 2016

Morais x Basha Collaboration to Debut at Couture

Jewelry brands Luis Morais and Aaron Basha are teaming up for an ongoing partnership that will be shown to buyers and press for the first time in Las Vegas.

20160527_MORAIS-BASHA-9.jpg
“It’s cool, fun fine jewelry that can be worn with a bathing suit and into the evening,” said Regine Basha, chief creative officer of Aaron Basha.

New York--Tellingly, the Morais x Basha collaboration was born from a chance encounter in Mykonos, Greece.


The countdown to Las Vegas market week continues.
“We both go there every summer and happened to have some friends in common,” said Regine Basha, daughter of designer Aaron Basha and chief creative officer of his eponymous company. “We figured out that we’re both jewelry designers, and we totally hit it off.”

“We were instant friends,” echoed Morais.

Friendship turned to business in the form of a 60-plus piece collection fusing the ethos of both brands: think Luis Morais’ vintage-bead bracelets paired with Aaron Basha’s signature charms, featuring an abundance of the symbol both Greek-vacationing designers use often--the evil eye.

Morais and Regine Basha wanted to create jewelry appropriate for the world’s chicest beaches.

“It’s cool, fun fine jewelry that can be worn with a bathing suit and into the evening,” Regine Basha said.

She and her sister, Osi Basha Soffer, worked with Morais to develop the collection.

“We went through their history, their designs and what could complement it and update it,” Morais said. “What surprised me was how open they were to my ideas.”

“When something is meant to be, everything comes together easily,” explained Regine Basha. “Before we knew it, we were in Muse showroom and we were at Couture. The energy was really positive and smooth. When it happens that way, there’s really magic that results from it.”

Entry-level beaded bracelets and necklaces will retail for approximately $210 to $550. Larger, stone-heavy, 14-karat gold pieces will retail between approximately $3,300 and $9,800.

Though final samples of the collection were only finished a week ago, the Basha team has already been testing the waters for customers’ reactions.

“I put it in my store window on Madison for the day, just to see what kind of feedback I was going to get,” Regine Basha said. “People were coming in and wanting to try things on. One woman ordered a necklace; I was like, ‘I can’t give it to you, this is a sample.’ Her husband was like, ‘We’ll pay double if she can take it now.’ I was so excited that there was such a strong response.”



The aesthetic synergy between Morais and Basha is all the more singular for the brands’ disparate backgrounds.

Brazilian-born, Miami-based Morais fell into his trade in the late ‘90s after replicating a
bracelet he saw in a magazine. Almost two decades later, his jewelry can be found in retail locations from Bergdorf Goodman to Colette and e-commerce sites such as Mr Porter and Stone & Strand.   

Aaron Basha hails from a line of Middle Eastern jewelers who bejeweled Babylonian royalty. After creating his own company in 1950, Basha went on to specialize in charms; he is particularly known for his popular baby shoe charms.

“It was a great honor to me to present the collection to Aaron Basha himself,” Morais said, “and we were able to have a wonderful conversation about jewelry.”

Today, maintaining family tradition, Basha’s four children work for him in New York where the company now is based.  

“This is the first time that my sister and I have really taken the reigns,” Regine Basha said, “and it’s great because we’re the younger generation and [Morais x Basha] has a cool, younger generation feel to it. We really are reflected in this collection.”

So far, signs for the partnership bode well.

“We’re already discussing the next collection and what that’s going to look like,” she said. “This is not the one and only.”  

Morais x Basha will debut to press and buyers at the Muse booth at Couture Las Vegas. The collection will be available online at MoraisBasha.com once the website launches, which is slated for this summer.
Ashley Davisis the senior editor, fashion at National Jeweler, covering all things related to design, style and trends.

The Latest

Supreme Court stock image
Policies & IssuesSep 11, 2025
Supreme Court to Hear Tariffs Case in November

A decision likely won’t come until January 2026 at the earliest, and the tariffs remain in effect until then.

Tabayer’s Nordstrom Shop-in-Shop
MajorsSep 11, 2025
Tabayer Opens Nordstrom Shop-In-Shop

Located in the revamped jewelry hall at the retailer’s New York City flagship, this opening is Tabayer’s first shop-in-shop.

De Beers education app on mobile phone
SourcingSep 11, 2025
Need to Sell More Natural Diamonds? De Beers Has an App for That

The new, free app offers accessible educational content, like games and podcasts, for U.S. retailers.

reDollar-fine-jewelry-department.jpg
Brought to you by
reDollar.com Is Rolling Out the Next Level Jewelry, Diamond & Watch Consignment Program

With their unmatched services and low fees, reDollar.com is challenging some big names in the online consignment world.

Gold jewelry on a scale
MajorsSep 10, 2025
Stuller to Swap Gold Scrap for Full Credit to Account

As the gold price rises, the manufacturer is offering a 100 percent payout through Sept. 30 for gold clean scrap.

Weekly QuizSep 04, 2025
This Week’s Quiz
Test your jewelry news knowledge by answering these questions.
Take the Quiz
Jacob and Co Loewe headphones
SourcingSep 10, 2025
Tech Meets Style in the New Loewe x Jacob & Co. Headphones

Jacob & Co. partnered with the German technology company on two pairs of headphones, one set with diamonds and the other with sapphires.

Tiffany & Co Favrile Beetle Necklace in Frankenstein
TrendsSep 10, 2025
Tiffany & Co. Archival Jewels Bring Life to ‘Frankenstein’

Guillermo del Toro’s 2025 “Frankenstein” will feature 27 jewels and objects from the storied brand, including pieces from its archives.

japac-btyb.png
Brought to you by
Rallying Call for the Jewelry Industry on Tariffs and Other Key Issues

Jewelers of America is leading the charge to protect the industry amidst rising economic threats.

24 Karat Club banquet
MajorsSep 10, 2025
24 Karat Club of New York’s Banquet to Return to Waldorf Astoria

The Waldorf Astoria New York’s grand reopening this past summer means a homecoming for the industry group’s annual event.

Anglo American’s Quellaveco copper mine in Peru
SourcingSep 09, 2025
Anglo American to Merge With Canadian Copper Miner

Anglo plans to merge with Teck Resources Ltd. to form Anglo Teck. The deal changes nothing about its plans to offload De Beers.

The Mellon Blue diamond
AuctionsSep 09, 2025
‘The Mellon Blue’ to Return to Auction, This Time at Christie’s

The 9.51-carat fancy vivid blue diamond, which set two world auction records at Sotheby’s in 2014, is estimated to fetch up to $30 million.

Dianne Batista Phillips Auctions
AuctionsSep 09, 2025
Phillips Names Dianne Batista Head of Jewels, New York

The industry veteran joins the auction house as it looks to solidify its footprint in the jewelry market.

Anastacia Lauren, Elle Jerge, Logan Nye
MajorsSep 09, 2025
MJSA Education Foundation Announces 2025 Scholarship Winners

The nonprofit awarded four students pursuing a professional career in jewelry making and design with $2,250 each.

Korman jewelry store Austin
IndependentsSep 08, 2025
Take a Look Inside the New Korman Store in Austin

The Texas-based jeweler has also undergone a brand refresh, debuting a new website and logo.

Logos for Manufacturing Jewelers & Suppliers of America and Jewelers of America
MajorsSep 08, 2025
MJSA Is Officially Now Under JA’s Umbrella

The two organizations have finalized and signed the affiliation agreement announced in May.

Sothebys JAR and Suzanne Belperron jewels
AuctionsSep 08, 2025
Sotheby’s To Auction ‘Exceptional’ Collection of JAR, Suzanne Belperron Jewels

The single-owner sale will headline Sotheby's inaugural jewelry auction at the Breuer building, its new global headquarters, this December.

National Jeweler columnist Peter Smith
ColumnistsSep 05, 2025
Peter Smith: A Lasting Lesson From Maurice Tempelsman

Smith recalls a bit of wisdom the industry leader, who died last week, shared at a diamond conference years ago.

Jamie Turner Victoria Labradorite Necklace
CollectionsSep 05, 2025
Piece of the Week: Jamie Turner’s ‘Victoria’ Necklace

The “Victoria” necklace features a labradorite hugged by diamond accents in 18-karat yellow gold.

Stock image of the U.S. Supreme Court
Policies & IssuesSep 05, 2025
Trump Takes Tariffs Case to the Supreme Court

Two lower courts have moved to block the import taxes, which will remain in place as the legal battle continues.

Patrick Mahomes Hublot campaign
WatchesSep 05, 2025
Patrick Mahomes Is the New Hublot Brand Ambassador

The Kansas City Chiefs quarterback shares Hublot’s dedication to pursuing greatness, the Swiss watchmaker said.

gia-edu main image.png
Supplier BulletinSep 04, 2025
A Brilliant Future Is Here

Sponsored by GIA

Lucara pink diamond
SourcingSep 04, 2025
Lucara Unveils Unusual 37-Carat Pink Diamond

The Type IIa stone, recovered from Botswana’s Karowe diamond mine last month, features unique coloration.

Shot from Breitling new NFL campaign
WatchesSep 04, 2025
Breitling Takes Its NFL Game to the Next Level

Breitling is now the NFL’s official timepiece partner, a move that puts the brand in front of the millions of Americans who watch football.

Fabergé x Gemfields Malaika Egg
SourcingSep 03, 2025
Gemfields Confirms Completion of Fabergé Sale

U.S.-based investment company SMG Capital LLC is the new owner of the luxury brand.

Claire’s storefront
MajorsSep 03, 2025
These Are the Nearly 300 Claire’s Stores Set to Close

A new court filing details the locations of the stores that will close, as well as the 830 that will remain open.

Stuller’s Tools, Equipment, & Metals and Findings & Metals Catalogs
MajorsSep 03, 2025
Stuller Releases 2 New Catalogs

The new catalogs are “Tools, Equipment, & Metals” and “Findings & Metals.”

Effy Jewelry Multicolor Sapphire Bangle
TrendsSep 03, 2025
Amanda’s Style File: A Perfect Birthstone

Sapphire’s variety of colors make it the perfect birthstone for September.

×

This site uses cookies to give you the best online experience. By continuing to use & browse this site, we assume you agree to our Privacy Policy