A 55.22-carat ruby has become both the largest and most valuable gem of its kind ever to sell at auction, netting $34.8 million on Thursday. The stone went under the hammer in New York in June, less ...

It’s a stark, startling contrast. Beautiful, precious jewels, like rubies, emeralds and sapphires, are often sourced in dismal conditions where disadvantaged workers and lawlessness make it easy for ...

Western North Carolina offers several locations for gem mining and exploration. Emerald Village, near Spruce Pine, allows visitors to dig for gems and go underground. Other popular spots in and around ...

Gemfields Group CEO Sean Gilbertson saw an opportunity to reshape the colored gem industry when he joined the company’s board in 2008. At the time, “the colored gem sector was fragmented, unregulated, ...

Western North Carolina is known for its hills full of hidden treasures. From rubies and sapphires to emeralds and gold, the region is stocked with gems, stones and minerals still waiting to be ...