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We are very sorry to report the passing of our friend Richard Krementz of Richard Krementz Gemstones. His long-time team member, Danielle Barber, calls him a great man, friend, and teacher. She sent out this communication upon his passing:

"Richard Krementz Jr, 86, of Morristown NJ and Criehaven ME died November 21. He is survived by his wife of 60 years, Peggy, his children Rick and Betsy, and grand daughters Anna and Nastajjia. He graduated from Yale in 1949, and then joined his family's jewelry manufacturing business, Krementz & Co (later Richard Krementz Gemstones). He was an early and very active board member of the American Gem Trade Association and International Colored Stone Association, and also strongly supported the American Gem Society and Jewelers Board of Trade. He personally ran the jewelry company until two weeks before his passing. Rick Krementz, his son, is now CEO of Richard Krementz Gemstones. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Criehaven Library, 58 Chadwick St, Portland ME 04102. A memorial service will be held  in Morristown on January 26."

Krementz & Co. dates back to Victorian times, when collar buttons were all the rage and it was a primary supplier of them. After the trend passed, the company became known for its gold overlay jewelry. But colored gemstones were Krementz’s real passion. He traveled the world in search of fine specimens, even going to places like Burma (now Myanmar) and Ceylon (now Sri Lanka) that were all but closed to the rest of the world.

His son, Richard (Rick) Krementz III told the Newark Star-Ledger it was because of these trips that the company was able to bring back many gems nobody in the United States had ever seen before.

Krementz was a fierce advocate for full disclosure to consumers of gemstone treatments, said his son. The elder Krementz felt strongly that consumers should be told of such treatments, lobbied trade associations to insist their members comply, and encouraged the Federal Trade Commission to establish disclosure rules.

In the late 1990s, the company sold off its non-gem divisions that manufactured gold overlay items, wedding and engagement rings, and diamond pave jewelry. The firm—now focusing on its gemstone line—also left its legendary Newark factory and moved to Springfield, NJ.

"My heart and blood is in that small operation," Krementz told The Star-Ledger in 1997. "My great love is the colored stones."

"It was his real love," concurred Rick Krementz. "We have perhaps the finest collection in the industry. I know it sounds a little like bragging, but it’s true."

The elder Krementz also served as a consultant for the Newark Museum’s 1997 exhibit "The Glitter and the Gold," which chronicled the history of jewelry manufacturing in the city. For that exhibit, the firm lent the museum items from its archives.