Our Story
Three Generations. One Standard.
Since 1988, the Rieth family has sourced gemstones the hard way — by going to the source.
Where It Began
Started in the field, not behind a desk.
Rieth Gems Co. was founded in Miami in 1988 by Hans Rieth, a German-born lapidary who spent his early career cutting stones in Idar-Oberstein before moving to Brazil to work directly with miners in Minas Gerais.
What began as a one-man operation importing Brazilian tourmaline and aquamarine has grown into a full-service gemstone house with sourcing relationships across four continents — but the philosophy has never changed.
We don't buy from middlemen. We go to the mine, we know the cutter, and we stand behind every stone we sell.
Every stone has a story. We know it.
History
A lineage built on the road.
Hans Rieth founds Rieth Gems Co. in Miami after a decade cutting stones in Idar-Oberstein and Minas Gerais.
First direct sourcing trip to Sri Lanka establishes relationships with sapphire and alexandrite miners in Ratnapura.
Second generation joins the business. Colombian emerald program launched with direct mine partnerships in Muzo and Chivor.
East Africa sourcing program established — Tanzanian tanzanite, Kenyan tsavorite, and Mozambican ruby added to inventory.
Third generation takes the helm. Lab certification program introduced with GIA, AGL, and Gübelin partnerships.
Over 1,200 designer clients served across 28 countries. Still family-owned. Still going to the mine.
How We Work
The principles behind every stone.
Direct Sourcing
We maintain personal relationships with miners and cutting centers in Colombia, Sri Lanka, Brazil, Tanzania, and beyond. No brokers, no trade show floors.
Full Provenance
Every stone in our inventory is traceable to its origin. We document the mine, the region, and the cutter — and we share that with our clients.
Lapidary Expertise
Three generations of cutting knowledge means we evaluate stones the way a craftsman does — not just by certificate, but by hand, loupe, and light.
Long-Term Relationships
We don't sell to everyone. We work with designers and makers who value the material as much as we do, and we build relationships that last decades.
Work with us.
Rieth Gems Co. works exclusively with jewelry designers, makers, and studios. If you're building something that demands exceptional material, we'd like to hear from you.