The jewelry theft behind the scenes of "The Voice" is one of the themes of the week. Faced with the amazement that the news caused, Fama ao Minuto spoke with stylist Mário de Carvalho to try to understand how the “loan” of luxury jewelry works in the fashion world in Portugal.
© Instagram reproduction – Mário de Carvalho
31/07/2026
by
O jewelry theft worth 346,000 euros behind the scenes of "The Voice Portugal" was one of the themes of the week. After the January 4th gala, several jewels used by Maria Petronilho have disappeared, digital format presenter.
The case came to the authorities and an investigation was opened that runs in the Department of Research and Criminal Action of Lisbon (DIAP) of the Public Prosecutor (MP).
The jewels had been borrowed by designer Maria Baptista, creator of the Fiorire Jewellery brand, being the responsibility of stylist and fashion producer Raquel Guerreiro and his assistant, Maria Nobre.
In the face of the astonishment that the news caused and the outlines of the situation, the Fame to Minute talked with Mário de Carvalho, designer and stylist to try to understand how the “loan” of luxury jewelry works in the fashion world in Portugal.
According to the designer, a stylist production in which luxury jewelry is used works “in the same way as if we are talking about clothing”. “We request the jewels to the marks and the marks give us the jewels. If you are a person of great visibility, for whom the brand is very interested, yes, jewelry is easily provided.”
The process seems simple and is, in fact, but what if it goes wrong? Mário de Carvalho told us that “in 10 years of career”, only “once” worked directly with a collection teams.
At the time, he would be wearing EUR 172,000 jewelry, and agreed that he would have to deliver the pieces in question at one hour previously combined with the security team – “Cinderella style”.
“Besides, I've walked with jewelry of 40,000 euros, 50,000 euros, in the car, in uncharacterized bags, yes. But I have walked and had no association with any kind of collection team.”
Mário de Carvalho realized that any stylist “when leaving a showroom with jewelry, or with any other type of piece, fills a transport guide”. This document states “what pieces the stylist has raised” and “responsive to them in case of disappearance or not being delivered in time and time”.
As for the fact that the jewelry is transported in bags, as apparently was the case with the stolen pieces behind the scenes of "The Voice", stylist explained that it is something normal and even part of the process.
“ That [carrying jewelry in bags or boxes] makes perfect sense to me. Especially because, often, the brands ask that they be transported in completely uncharacterized bags, so that on the street are not identified“, highlighted.
“ Let's imagine a Bulgari, a Cartier, or even a more handmade jewelry workshop, that everyone knows works with jewelry, doesn't want them to walk in bags identified with the names of the marks on the street. Even though Cartier and Bulgari work differently. They work with a value transport company,” he added.
Mário de Carvalho never lived in the skin the disappearance of jewels he was wearing in a styling production, but he has already had his responsibility “jewels of very high values”.
“Combinations of jewelry, rings, necklaces and bracelets, beating the 70,000 euros. And they were riding with me in the car.“
Regarding responsibilities in the event of the disappearance of jewelry from brands, “the stylist is the first person responsible for the situation. In case of loss, it is the name of the stylist that is in the transport guide. So, yes, the stylist is the first responsible.”
Why is there no security measures?
Mário de Carvalho has no doubt that there should be tighter security measures when we talk about styling with values of thousands of euros, but the reason why this should not happen is simple: “cost retention”.
“In fact, this works as a cost retention for everyone. Because engaging a value-carrying company is something that's expensive. So nobody wants to. They really want it to be easier and simpler everywhere.”
As for the theft of jewelry behind the scenes of “The Voice Portugal”, Mário de Carvalho has no doubt that the case “will open a gap so that more often you work with value transport companies”.
“ But we also have to realize that if we are going to work with more value transport companies, and this being an extra and equally expensive service, we stylists will no longer have easy or as easy access to jewelry as we had previously,” he warned.
“ This came here to open a Pandora box that was actually to be opened”, finished Mário de Carvalho, designer and fashion stylist.