Mayer & Watt
Mayer & Watt is a family-owned wholesale distributor of loose colored gemstones founded in 1981, supplying jewelers, designers, and trade wholesalers from Maysville, Kentucky via field sales, trade shows, and a mobile inventory app.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1981
- HeadquartersMaysville, United States
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What Mayer & Watt does
Mayer & Watt is a family-owned wholesale distributor of loose colored gemstones, founded in 1981 as Watt Gems and now operating under the Mayer & Watt name from Maysville, Kentucky. The firm supplies jewelers, designers, and other trade wholesalers with sapphires, spinels, emeralds, rubies, tanzanite, Paraiba tourmaline, and other colored stones sourced from a global network spanning East Africa, South America, Sri Lanka, Zambia, Colombia, Mozambique, Nigeria, Myanmar, Thailand, Pakistan, Australia, Madagascar, and Austria. Pricing is structured per carat on individual stones, with reference prices ranging from approximately $1,350/ct to $9,750/ct and above, supplemented by a memo/consignment program that allows trade buyers to evaluate stones on approval.
The company runs a lean operation of roughly 6 employees, distributing inventory through field sales ("road warriors"), trade show participation (including AGTA Tucson), and digital channels. A native mobile application on iOS and Android enables trade buyers to browse the current inventory, and the company publishes Gemipedia, an educational platform cataloging 31-plus gemstone types. Stone disclosures follow AGTA enhancement codes, and the firm maintains a stated Fair Trade commitment. Mayer & Watt serves strictly B2B; consumer-facing transactions are out of scope, and pricing is not listed publicly.
Leadership transitioned in 2023 when Geoffrey Watt was elevated to managing partner, formalizing second-generation succession. There is no disclosed external funding, no API or SDK integrations, and no AI/ML capability described across product, platform, or sourcing operations. The business model remains a one-time-sale wholesale model with optional memo terms — there are no subscription or recurring revenue streams.
Mayer & Watt firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Mayer & Watt
- Legal name
- Mayer and Watt
- Website
- https://mayerandwatt.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1981
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- Mayer & Watt is a family-owned wholesale distributor of loose colored gemstones founded in 1981, supplying jewelers, designers, and trade wholesalers from Maysville, Kentucky via field sales, trade shows, and a mobile inventory app.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Mayer & Watt industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Wholesale Gemstones
- NAICS
- Jewelry, Watch, Precious Stone, and Precious Metal Merchant Wholesalers (423940), Jewelry, Watch, Precious Stone, and Precious Metal Merchant Wholesalers (42394)
- SIC
- Wholesale-Jewelry, Watches, Precious Stones & Metals (5094)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Rough Gemstone Trading & Brokerage (CRAKAJAE)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Fine Jewelry Wholesale & Trading (CRAKAAAL)
Keywords
Where Mayer & Watt is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Maysville
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices2 records
Markets served
Mayer & Watt business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Supply Chain, Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D
Revenue model
- Wholesale Gemstone Sales: One-time sale of loose gemstones to approved trade professionals (jewelers, wholesalers, designers). Stones sold per carat with individual pricing. MSRP pricing provided as reference. Requires wholesale account approval with business credentials.
- Memo/Consignment Program: Trade professionals can request gemstone memos for evaluation before purchase. Supports wholesale account onboarding with credit references and JBT listing verification.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Individual gemstone per-carat pricing ranging from $1,350/ct (Yellow Sapphire) to $9,750/ct (Red Spinel) |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels6 records
Mayer & Watt product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Mayer & Watt is a wholesale dealer of natural colored gemstones, supplying sapphires, spinels, emeralds, rubies, tanzanite, and other varieties to jewelry trade professionals including jewelers, designers, and wholesalers. The company operates a trade-only inventory supported by a mobile app for browsing and the Gemipedia educational resource. It is a family-owned business headquartered in Maysville, Kentucky, that has served the U.S. jewelry trade since 1981.
Product overview
Mayer & Watt is a first and second-generation family-owned gemstone wholesale company offering a curated inventory of rare and collectible colored gemstones. Their product portfolio centers on the Gemstone Inventory—a wholesale platform for approved jewelers featuring diverse stones including sapphires, spinels, emeralds, rubies, tanzanite, Paraiba tourmaline, and over 30 additional gemstone varieties. The offering is complemented by the M&W App for mobile inventory access, Gemipedia for educational content on gemology and trade practices, and Trade Events & Round Tables for industry engagement. The company operates as a strict wholesale-only business, selling exclusively to verified trade professionals including jewelers, designers, and wholesalers.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Colored Gemstone Inventory Wholesale supply of natural colored gemstones including sapphires, spinels, emeralds, rubies, tanzanite, and other varieties, sold to jewelry trade professionals (jewelers, designers, wholesalers).
- M&W Mobile App Mobile application that allows trade buyers to browse Mayer & Watt's wholesale gemstone inventory remotely.
- Gemipedia Proprietary gemstone encyclopedia providing educational content about gemstones, gemology, and trade terminology for jewelry professionals and enthusiasts.
- Trade Events and Round Tables Trade show presence and round-table events that allow jewelry trade buyers to view Mayer & Watt's gemstone inventory in person and engage with the team.
Companies that use Mayer & Watt
Customer profileNamed customers1 record
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles1 record
Mayer & Watt technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature3 records
Mayer & Watt partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Four partnerships are on record, tiered former core partner - partnership ended on good terms in 1994, core industry partnership, notable association membership and minor partnership.
- August Mayerformer core partner - partnership ended on good terms in 1994German cutting house partnership formed in 1987 creating Mayer & Watt name. Partnership with August Mayer ended amicably in 1994 with continued good relations with Uli Mayer.
- AGTA (American Gem Trade Association)core industry partnershipSimon Watt served on AGTA board for 15 years total, twice as Vice-president, and chaired the Spectrum competition for nearly 10 years. Company participates in AGTA Tucson Gem Fair annually.
- Women's Jewelry Associationnotable association membershipLaurie Watt has been member since the 1980s, was instrumental in starting the Ohio/KY chapter, served as President, and is currently a Chapter Leader.
- Virtual Roundtable Eventminor partnershipPartnership with Virtual Roundtable Event platform for hosting virtual industry discussions and educational events for trade professionals.
Scale indicators2 records
Recent moves9 records
Expansion highlights4 records
Mayer & Watt competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- Gemfields Group: Public-listed operator of major emerald (Kagem, Zambia) and ruby (Montepuez, Mozambique) mines, supplying rough and cut colored stones to the global trade. Comparable in the colored gemstone supply chain but at vastly greater scale and with mining ownership — a structural incumbent.
- Stuller: One of the largest U.S. manufacturers and wholesale suppliers of fine jewelry, findings, and gemstones, with a full B2B catalog serving independent jewelers. Comparable to Mayer & Watt only as a wholesale supplier to the same trade customer base, but vastly broader in scope.
Direct peers
- Columbia Gem House: Vertically integrated wholesale colored gemstone supplier focused on fair trade and traceable sourcing from mines in East Africa and South America. Highly comparable to Mayer & Watt in niche (colored gemstones), customer type (trade jewelers), and ethical-sourcing positioning.
- Nomad's Co. Wholesale fine gemstone dealer specializing in precision-cut colored stones for the trade. Comparable to Mayer & Watt in B2B gemstone trading, focus on cut quality, and curatorial positioning for designer jewelers.
- Multicolour Gems: One of the largest wholesale colored gemstone dealers globally, selling cut sapphires, rubies, spinels, emeralds, and other colored stones to trade jewelers. Closely comparable to Mayer & Watt in customer base (B2B jewelers), product mix (loose colored gemstones), and per-carat pricing model.
- Pala International: Long-established wholesale colored gemstone dealer specializing in sapphires, rubies, spinels, and rare collector stones, with a strong provenance and provenance-disclosure story. Comparable to Mayer & Watt in targeting the trade-only segment and emphasizing rare, curatorial offerings.
- Thai Lanka Trading: Wholesale colored gemstone dealer sourcing primarily from Sri Lanka and Thailand, offering sapphires, rubies, and other stones to trade buyers. Directly comparable to Mayer & Watt in colored gemstone focus and trade-only distribution model.
- Bespoke Gems: Niche wholesale dealer of rare and collector-grade colored gemstones, including spinels, garnets, and tourmalines, targeting the designer-jeweler trade. Closely comparable to Mayer & Watt in curated rare-stone positioning and strict trade-only sales model.
Emerging players
- The Natural Sapphire Company: Specialist in natural sapphires and other colored gemstones, with both wholesale and direct-to-consumer channels. Comparable to Mayer & Watt in colored gemstone focus and rare-stone curation, though more DTC-skewed.
- Leibish & Co. Specialist in fancy colored diamonds and colored gemstones, operating both wholesale and retail channels. Comparable to Mayer & Watt in colored gemstone expertise and rare-stone focus, though broader in scope (diamonds + gemstones) and with a direct-to-consumer overlay.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Mayer & Watt social profiles
Digital presenceMayer & Watt financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Mayer & Watt leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles3 records
Mayer & Watt funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Mayer & Watt M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Mayer & Watt
What does Mayer & Watt do?
Mayer & Watt is a wholesale dealer of natural colored gemstones, supplying sapphires, spinels, emeralds, rubies, tanzanite, and other varieties to jewelry trade professionals including jewelers, designers, and wholesalers. The company operates a trade-only inventory supported by a mobile app for browsing and the Gemipedia educational resource. It is a family-owned business headquartered in Maysville, Kentucky, that has served the U.S. jewelry trade since 1981.
Is Mayer & Watt a public or private company?
Mayer & Watt is a private company. It is classified as family owned and is currently operating.
When was Mayer & Watt founded?
Mayer & Watt was founded in 1981. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is Mayer & Watt based?
Mayer & Watt is headquartered in Maysville, United States, in the North America region.
How does Mayer & Watt make money?
Two revenue lines are on record. Wholesale Gemstone Sales are the primary driver. The others are memo/Consignment Program.
Who are Mayer & Watt's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are Gemfields Group and Stuller. Direct peers are Columbia Gem House, Nomad's Co., Multicolour Gems, Pala International, Thai Lanka Trading and Bespoke Gems. Emerging players are The Natural Sapphire Company and Leibish & Co..
Does Mayer & Watt have an API?
No public API is recorded for Mayer & Watt.
What industry is Mayer & Watt in?
Mayer & Watt's product category is Wholesale Gemstones. Its primary akta.pro industry code is CRAKAJAE, Rough Gemstone Trading & Brokerage, with a secondary code of CRAKAAAL, Fine Jewelry Wholesale & Trading. Its NAICS code is 423940 and its SIC code is 5094.