It’s 1955, and nineteen-year-old Manuel Marcial de Gomar slowly reins his horse along a rugged trail in the rainforest mountains of Colombia. Exploring emerald-bearing areas high in the notoriously dangerous Eastern Andes is intoxicating.
It’s not long before Marcial is stricken with “Green Fever” — the rush of seeing a flash of emerald green following the strike of the handpick. Years of hands-on field mining propel him to become a successful emerald wholesaler, a gem consultant, and a prolific retail jewelry designer.
His travels throughout Colombia take him to the Caribbean coast, where he also becomes intrigued by the queen conch pearls being harvested by local divers.
Marcial morphs into one of the world’s foremost authorities on emeralds and conch pearls. He decides to open his own shop in Freeport, Bahamas, the first emerald specialty store outside of Colombia, and later in Lahaina, Hawaii.
Finally, in 1980, Marcial brings Emeralds International to Key West.
Today, Marcial’s daughter, Marina, and her husband Carl are at the helm of this family-run business. But Marcial’s passion for emeralds and queen conch pearls, combined with his love for unique design, continue to shape his legacy and make this renowned boutique a place to behold.
Treasure buffs and aficionados also flock here for authentic pieces recovered from sunken Spanish galleons and the remarkably faithful recreations of Spanish treasure jewelry.
See his stunning creations at Emeralds International,104 Duval Street in Key West. Info: 305-294-2060; emeraldsinternational.com.
