Ruby City Gems and Minerals in Franklin, NC

Ruby City Gems and Minerals in Franklin, North Carolina is the perfect location for someone to visit if they're new to gem mining or would like to buy lapidary supplies and equipment. It's also a great place to get unique gifts, jewelry and books and magazines.

The facility has one of the largest collections of minerals, gems, pre-Columbian collections and Native American collections in the world.

Ruby City Gems and Minerals has a museum section where visitors can see The World's Largest Sapphire that weighs 385 pounds. There's also a black-light section where visitors can watch gems and minerals glow underneath a special light. The museum is free to all patrons.

The staff has a reputation for being friendly, knowledgeable and helpful. They're happy to answer any questions.

An assortment of jewelry repairs can be done at Ruby City Gems and Minerals. A few of the services the facility provides include ring sizing, diamond setting, shanks, stone tightening, chain and bracelet repairs, and refinishing.

The collections of stones at Ruby City was started by Ernest Klatt, son of a poor farmer in Crescent City, Oklahoma. In 1954 he traveled with his sick wife to Franklin, North Carolina where he met Ernest and Ellis Soper. These men, a chemical engineer and world traveler, accumulated a large collection of gemstones, artifacts and minerals. Ernest bought Ellis Sopers' collection and soon began his gem shop.

Today the business is run by the man's son, Ernest A. Klatt and his son, Kevin C. Klatt. The business has evolved to focus more on the jewelry instead of the gem and mineral collection that it started out as.