Three generations of passion for precious stones
A family business in Geneva, born of a passion passed from father to daughter, and carried on today by the third generation.
A family of gem dealers
Elke Berr discovered precious stones through her father, a gem dealer in Africa, and she has never stopped looking at them closely since. With Thomas Berr, she founded Berr & Partners in Geneva in 1986.
Both are gemmologists and gem dealers, and both still travel to the source. With Raphael Berr, the next generation has joined the house.
Elke Berr
- Studied gemmology in Idar-Oberstein, Germany's gemstone capital
- Began her career in Chopard's gemstone buying department in Geneva
- Founded Berr & Partners SA with Thomas Berr in 1986
- Founded Elke Berr Créations in 2003; its Rock'n Rose collection of black and white diamonds celebrated the brand's 20 years in 2023
From one generation to the next
A father's passion
Elke's father was a gem dealer in Africa. Through him she discovered precious stones, and learnt to look at a stone closely, to recognise its colour and its character, and to respect its rarity.
Berr & Partners SA is founded in Geneva
After studying gemmology in Idar-Oberstein and starting her career in Chopard's gemstone buying department, Elke founded Berr & Partners SA with Thomas Berr, also an expert gemmologist. From the start we specialised in coloured precious stones: rubies, sapphires and emeralds, as well as diamonds.
Elke Berr Créations
Elke launches her own line of high jewellery, Elke Berr Créations, designed around exceptional stones. In 2023, the Rock'n Rose collection of black and white diamonds celebrates its 20 years.
Direct relationships in six countries
Elke and Thomas travelled to the mines and gem markets of Myanmar, Sri Lanka, Colombia, Madagascar, Mozambique and Zambia. The ties built there, many of them more than twenty years old, still supply the stones we select today, including in Myanmar.
The next generation
With Raphael Berr, the next generation has joined the house, with the same standards of expertise and discretion.
Where and how we source
We buy directly in the countries that produce the finest coloured stones, from trusted partners and at mines we have visited ourselves. Every transaction goes through due diligence on buyers and sellers, in line with anti-money-laundering law. We also support the local communities, in particular schools in the mining villages we work with.
Sri Lanka
Ceylon sapphires, known for their bright blues, as well as padparadschas and fancy colours.
Colombia
The reference for emeralds, with a pure, intense green, from mines such as Muzo and Chivor.
Madagascar
One of the most important sources of the last decades for fine sapphires and rubies.
Mozambique
Since the discovery of the Montepuez deposits in 2009, the main source of fine rubies, with a bright red close to the best Burmese stones.
Zambia
Emeralds from the Kafubu area, with a slightly bluer, cooler green and often good clarity.
Myanmar
For centuries the Mogok valley has produced the most sought-after rubies. Since the civil war we no longer travel there ourselves, but trusted partners of more than twenty years still give us access to Burmese stones.
Memberships & Partners
Berr & Partners SA is a member of several professional associations, follows the Kimberley Process, and has its stones certified by the leading independent gemmological laboratories.
Professional memberships
Independent gemmological laboratories
Partners
