The observation of lamellar liquid crystals (LCs) is reported in fractions of Brazilian crude oil emulsions. Through polarized light microscopy, several structures exhibiting Maltese cross-optical pattern were observed, mostly in aqueous-rich fractions (bottom fractions). Microscopy observations were carried out immediately after emulsion preparation and after a destabilization protocol by centrifugation. Four oils were used: two waxy crude oils and two non-paraffinic oils. The experimental variables investigated were oil composition, aqueous content, and saline solution concentration. The liquid crystalline structures had a similar pattern for all samples observed with a thickness of 1.77 +/- 0.14 mu m surrounding droplets of 4.57 +/- 0.47 mu m diameter. Neither the presence of wax nor NaCl (up to 35 g/L) exhibited any correlation with liquid crystal (LC) appearance. However, the increase of the aqueous phase added to the systems favoring LC formation.