Manuel Joseph Marcial de Gomar, age 90, winged his flight to Heaven on July 23, 2026, surrounded by his beloved family.

There are those who spend their lives searching for treasure. Then there are the rare few who become treasures themselves.

For more than seven decades, Manuel Marcial de Gomar devoted his life to exploring the world's rarest gemstones, advancing the understanding and appreciation of emeralds and Queen conch pearls, inspiring generations of jewelry professionals, and quietly demonstrating through his daily actions that kindness, curiosity, humility, and service to humanity are life's greatest riches.

To the international jewelry community, he was widely recognized as one of the world's foremost authorities on emeralds and Queen Conch pearls. He was an explorer whose knowledge was earned in the emerald mountains of Colombia, an educator whose passion inspired countless students and professionals, an innovative designer whose creations challenged convention, a historian devoted to preserving the stories behind Earth's rarest natural treasures, and a humanitarian who believed that every life carried immeasurable value.

To the City of Key West, he became part of the very fabric of the transformation of Duval Street, helping for more than forty-five years to establish the island as an internationally recognized destination where visitors could experience museum-quality gemstones, extraordinary craftsmanship, and world-renowned expertise unlike anywhere else in the world.

To the Bahá'í worldwide community, he was a man whose life reflected the timeless teaching of "The earth is but one country, and mankind its citizens."

And to his family, he was a devoted husband, a loving father, a proud grandfather, a faithful friend, and the quiet foundation upon which generations would build.

While the world admired his remarkable accomplishments, those closest to Manuel understood that the qualities defining his life could never be measured by awards, titles, or the rarity of the gemstones he collected. They were measured by his humility, his generosity, his kindness, his unwavering integrity, his sense of wonder, his infectious curiosity, his joyful storytelling, his ability to crack a joke when least expected, his unfailing ability to correct all spelling and grammar mistakes, and above all…by his steadfast belief that every person deserved dignity, kindness, and respect.

Born in Newark, New Jersey, to parents of Spanish descent, Manuel's extraordinary life unfolded as a journey of exploration, innovation, scholarship, artistry, and service. The son of José Marcial Charlo and Carmen Marcial de Gomar, his family had settled in Colombia in 1947, and after serving in the United States Coast Guard during the Korean Campaign, he returned there to make his own way.

The defining moment came in 1955. Aboard an airplane bound for Colombia, nineteen-year-old Manuel happened to sit beside a mining executive who was traveling to take over the administration of the fabled Chivor emerald mine. The man spoke no Spanish and was so impressed by the young man's knowledge of Colombia that he hired him on the spot as an interpreter. That chance conversation carried Manuel for the first time into Colombia's rugged rainforest mountains and into a calling that would shape the rest of his life.

Striking out on his own, he secured his own exploration permits from the Colombian Ministry of Mines and spent six years searching the Gachalá–Somondoco–Chivor region of the Guavio River, on foot and on horseback, keenly aware of the dangers, both natural and human, for which the region is notorious. In 1958 he even earned a commercial pilot's license. He lived and traveled deep into the emerald country, uncovering old and new deposits and building relationships with miners and local communities, gaining firsthand knowledge that could never be acquired through books or laboratories alone.

He followed in the footsteps of legendary predecessors — Peter Rainier, who wrote "Green Fire" about his years at Chivor; Russell Anderton, author of "Tic Polonga," for whom Manuel worked as an interpreter in the high Andes; Chris Dixon, elder statesman of the emerald industry; and Fritz Klein, who found the famous 632-carat "Patricia" emerald at Chivor. Those experiences became the foundation of a career built not merely upon academic knowledge, but upon authentic, hard-won experience. Miners, cutters, collectors, jewelers, museum curators, auction specialists, appraisers, and historians the world over came to trust him because they understood something fundamental: he had lived the story. His knowledge was earned, not inherited.

Manuel's ability, earned from hands-on field mining, led him first to become an emerald wholesaler to major foreign buyers, a gem consultant, and a retail jeweler and designer. In 1964, in Freeport, Bahamas, he opened Emeralds of Colombia, Ltd. — widely recognized as the first specialty emerald retail store outside of Colombia — introducing countless visitors to the extraordinary beauty of Colombian emeralds. When political unrest reached the Bahamas in 1969, he moved to Lahaina, Hawaii, establishing Emeralds International, where his designs earned wide public acclaim. In 1980 his entrepreneurial vision brought him to Key West, Florida, where Emeralds International would become far more than a jewelry store — it became an institution.

Located on historic Duval Street, Emeralds International became a destination unlike any other. Inside the gallery, Manuel transformed every conversation into a lesson, every gemstone into a story, every display into a museum exhibit, and every visitor into a student. Collectors from around the world sought his guidance. Museums requested his expertise. Auction houses consulted his opinions. Insurance companies relied upon his evaluations. Universities invited him to share his knowledge. His reputation grew not because he sought recognition, but because he generously shared what he knew.

Manuel's expertise placed him at the center of some of the most storied discoveries of his age. He was chosen — from among a number of qualified experts - as the independent appraiser of all emeralds recovered from the world-famous sunken Spanish galleon Nuestra Señora de Atocha, discovered by Mel Fisher for Treasure Salvors, Inc. He served on the board of the Mel Fisher Maritime Heritage Society, was recognized by the State of Florida and its Admiralty Court as an emerald expert, and was featured on NBC's "Hunt for Amazing Treasures." As a leading advisor to North American Emerald Mines, he cut the first two emeralds from one of the first significant emerald recoveries in North America — the "Heart of Carolina" and the "Princess of Carolina."

His scholarship reached far beyond the mines. He researched Spanish shipwrecks at the Archives of the Indies in Seville, dived on seven wrecks in Colombia's San Bernardo Archipelago, discovered the undersea site of an ancient Carib village, and contributed artifacts to the Underwater Explorers Club in Freeport. He lectured at the Gemological Institute of America, the American Society of Appraisers, the National Association of Jewelry Appraisers, museums, and universities across the United States and abroad — often alongside his wife, Inge, and his son-in-law and protégé, Carl Schutze. His autobiography, "The Tears of Fura," recounts a lifetime among these rare gems and the country he loved.

This lifelong pursuit of knowledge culminated in one of his proudest achievements — the famed Marcial de Gomar Collection, one of the most remarkable private collections of gemological rarities ever assembled by an individual. Among its wonders is "La Gloria," one of the largest museum-quality emeralds from the Muzo mine at 887 carats, and the Marcial de Gomar Star, the world's largest and only known double-sided star emerald, certified by the Gemological Institute of America. Each specimen carries a story; each rarity reflects a journey; and together they stand as a testament to a life defined by curiosity, perseverance, scholarship, and wonder.

On January 20, 2022, at the Emeralds International boutique in Key West, Manuel was honored with the prestigious International Latino Award, presented by Massimo Rossi, then CEO of the celebrated Swiss watchmaker Cuervo y Sobrinos. The award recognizes Latin figures who have achieved international success in their respective fields — a fitting tribute to a Spanish-American who had risen from an interpreter in the Colombian mountains to one of the most respected figures in the global colored-gemstone community. In his honor, the maison unveiled a special limited-edition Churchill "Marcial de Gomar" watch, its dial the deep, unmistakable green of the emeralds to which he had devoted his life.

While Manuel's professional accomplishments earned him international respect, those closest to him knew that his greatest source of pride was never found within a museum, a lecture hall, or a showcase filled with extraordinary gemstones. It was found at home. He cherished his family above all else. He shared his curiosity with them and encouraged them to ask questions, to seek understanding, to appreciate beauty, and to live lives defined not by personal success alone, but by integrity, compassion, and service to others. His greatest hope was never simply to pass along knowledge — it was to pass along values.

He is survived by his beloved wife, Inge Marcial, whose love, companionship, and unwavering support accompanied him through sixty-two years of remarkable adventures, discoveries, and accomplishments. Together, they built not only a family, but a life devoted to exploration, education, faith, and service.

He is lovingly remembered by his children, Michael, Marina, Luciana, and Nanea, each of whom carries forward a unique part of his character, his curiosity, and his enduring love for learning; and by his cherished grandchildren, Valeria, Manny, Kylan, Zen, Kalea, Romero, and Santi, whose lives brought him immeasurable joy and whose futures remain forever enriched by the wisdom, encouragement, and unconditional love he so freely gave. He is also lovingly remembered by his South African-born son-in-law, Carl, who learned the emerald and jewelry business from the best teacher and mentor.

Although his grandchildren knew him as "Abuelito," they also knew him as an explorer whose stories transported them across continents, into ancient civilizations, through emerald mines, beneath Caribbean waters, and into a world where every natural treasure carried a lesson waiting to be discovered. He was the one who taught them how to open coconuts, grind spices, drive a boat, spearfish, fillet a fish, cook like a Masterchef, dominate on the chess board, and carry strength balanced with kindness and respect.

As a devoted member of the Bahá'í Faith since 1969, along with his wife Inge, Manuel believed deeply that humanity is one family, and he lived each day by the words "The earth is but one country, and mankind its citizens." Whether standing beside miners in Colombia, speaking before audiences of jewelry professionals, welcoming visitors into Emeralds International, or sharing stories with neighbors in Key West, he saw no divisions of race, nationality, language, religion, or culture. He believed every individual possessed inherent dignity, that prejudice in every form diminished humanity, that knowledge carried with it a responsibility to serve others, and that success meant very little unless it improved the lives of those around him. Those principles shaped not only the man he became, but the legacy he leaves behind. He served on the Bahá’í National Spiritual Assembly of Hawai’i, the Bahá’í National Teaching Committee of the United States, and the Bahá’í Spiritual Assemblies of Lahaina (Hawai’i), Cayman Islands, Deming (Washington), and Key West (Florida).

Although Manuel's earthly journey has come to its close, the work of his lifetime continues. His influence lives on through the countless jewelry professionals, historians, educators, collectors, designers, and appraisers whose understanding of emeralds was forever enriched by his willingness to teach — through every lecture he delivered, every article he authored, every gemstone he studied, every design he created, and every story he shared. Former students became teachers, young jewelers became respected professionals, collectors became historians, visitors became lifelong friends, and children became explorers. His influence quietly multiplied through others, which is the mark of a true teacher.

Manuel Marcial de Gomar spent more than seventy years searching mountains, rivers, jungles, oceans, and distant lands for some of the Earth's rarest natural treasures. He discovered extraordinary emeralds, remarkable conch pearls, historic artifacts, and natural wonders beyond imagination. Yet after a lifetime of exploration, scholarship, and discovery, he quietly demonstrated a far greater truth: the greatest treasure was never the emerald, nor the pearl, nor the collection, nor the recognition. The greatest treasure was humanity itself.

“So powerful is the light of unity that it can illuminate the whole earth.” ~ Baha’u’llah

May we honor his extraordinary life not only by remembering what he accomplished, but by living as he did — with humility, generosity, curiosity, courage, faith, and an unwavering commitment to the oneness of humanity. Though precious stones may endure for millions of years, it is a life devoted to serving humanity that shines with the greatest brilliance. Manuel Marcial de Gomar's light will endure for generations to come.

Celebration of Life Service

Tuesday, July 28, 2026 at 11:00am

McAlister-Smith Funeral Home

2501 Bees Ferry Road, Charleston, South Carolina 29414

Services will also be livestreamed.

Flowers may be sent to McAlister-Smith Funeral and Cremation West Ashley in honor of Manuel's memory.