Alongside diamonds, there are three precious gemstones that stand above the rest as most desirable: emeralds, rubies, and sapphires. Each has its own charm and significance in history, as well as its fair share of dramatic occurrences, but their collective magnetism is undeniable. We've shared some interesting facts about each stone below, as well as select jewelry pieces to add more sparkle to your collection.
Emeralds are a derivative of the mineral beryl and characterized by a luminous shade of green. Colombia is the largest producer of emeralds, as well as Zambia and Brazil, though there are other countries with mining sites; Egypt has been a source since ancient times, particularly from Cleopatra’s Mines. Emeralds have been found in Connecticut, Montana, Nevada, and North and South Carolina as far as the US. For a 55th wedding anniversary, emeralds are traditionally gifted.
Discover some of the world’s most significant emeralds at the following US museums: the Carolina Emperor at the North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences in Raleigh; the Chalk and Gachalá Emeralds at the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History in Washington DC; and our very own Patricia Emerald at New York City’s American Museum of Natural History.
Choose your own emerald—
Derived from the mineral corundum, rubies are a coveted gemstone, especially in Asian countries. Thailand, Cambodia, Myanmar, and Sri Lanka are all producers of natural rubies, as well as Afghanistan, Mozambique, and a few other parts of Africa. American rubies are mined in Montana, North and South Carolina, and Wyoming. Celebrate a 40th wedding anniversary with a ruby-set gift.
Carved from the largest known ruby in the world, the Liberty Bell Ruby was stolen in November of 2011 from a foundation in a Delaware jewelry store and has never been recovered. Fortunately, there are other rubies you can visit in America—at the Smithsonian, the Rosser Reeves, Hixon and Carmen Lucia Rubies find their home; New York’s American Museum of Natural History boasts its own piece, the DeLong Ruby.
Add a ruby to your collection—
Sapphires come from the same family as rubies (corundum), and are usually found in close proximity. Prominent sapphire mining areas include Australia, India, Sri Lanka, Madagascar, and Myanmar. Here in the US, sapphires are typically found in Montana. Sapphires are the traditional wedding gift for a 45th anniversary. Sapphires actually come in a variety of colors, but the blue sapphire is certainly the most well-known. Sapphires are especially relevant at William Barthman because sapphire crystals are used for many of our watches.
Notable sapphires on view in the US are the Logan Sapphire; the Stars of Asia, Artaban, and Bombay; the Bismarck Sapphire; and the James J. Hill Sapphire all housed at the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History in Washington DC; and last but not least, the Star of India at our very own American Museum of Natural History.
Shop sapphire pieces—
Have you decided which gemstone is to your taste? Since 1884, William Barthman Jeweler has provided the finest precious stone, diamond, and 18K gold pieces to delight new and devoted customers. We invite you to browse our expansive online collection, or come into one of our NYC locations for a more personalized shopping experience. Our expert team of sales professionals can answer any questions you have about cut, clarity, customization options, and more! We look forward to our next opportunity to serve you, and continue to shape the legacy of one of the oldest NYC retailers of our kind.