Our Story
Nathan Reynolds
Some of the most fascinating objects in the world reveal themselves only when you look closely. A gemstone can carry the geological history of the earth; a piece of jewelry can preserve the craftsmanship and stories of the people who wore it; a fossil can capture a moment millions of years ago.
I have spent my career learning to look closely. As a GIA Graduate Gemologist with extensive experience in gemstones and jewelry, I am fascinated by the materials, craftsmanship, history, and rarity behind the objects I encounter. That curiosity extends naturally to minerals, fossils, precious metals, and other objects of significance.
Reynolds Rarities brings these interests together—a collection built around the unusual, the beautiful, and the stories that make remarkable objects worth collecting.
The Journey
My passion for the hunt began in university, where I started trading vintage Polaroid cameras and antique photography equipment. That early interest in collecting quickly grew into an entrepreneurial pursuit—working estate sales, curating antique collections, and uncovering the unusual objects that most people overlooked.
Those experiences eventually led me deeper into the world of antiques and estates, where I learned the importance of careful research, presentation, provenance, and understanding the markets behind the objects I was handling. More importantly, they taught me to look beyond an object's obvious appeal and ask what makes it truly interesting.
After graduating I worked with various auction houses, getting more exposure to gems, minerals, and jewelry. My interest could not be stopped once it began.
Eventually, I sold much of my personal collection to take the next step: moving to New York City to pursue my Graduate Gemologist degree at the Gemological Institute of America. It was there that my fascination with rare objects became a lasting passion for gemstones and jewelry. The more I learned, the more I realized how much there was still to discover.
After GIA, I began sourcing and supplying gemstones to designers and jewelers within my growing network. What started as a passion quickly became an increasingly connected world of gem dealers, cutters, collectors, designers, mineral enthusiasts, and specialists. I became deeply immersed in the gemstone community, constantly learning, building relationships, and searching for the next stone, material, or piece of knowledge that would expand my understanding.
Since then, my career has continued to grow across gemology, jewelry, authentication, valuation, and dealing. I have examined and valued tens of thousands of pieces, from everyday jewelry to exceptional gemstones and significant collections.
The journey has reinforced something I continue to believe: the value of an object is rarely limited to what is immediately visible. Its materials, craftsmanship, provenance, condition, rarity, history, and the story of how it came to be can all change the way we understand it—and sometimes make an ordinary-looking object extraordinary.
Today
Today, I work as a Senior Expert Gemologist at The RealReal, where my work centers on gemstone identification, authentication, valuation, and the careful study of jewelry and objects of significance. I also serve on the Gemological Institute of America’s Program Advisory Committee and the Advisory Board of the Alfie Norville Gem & Mineral Museum.
Alongside my professional work, I continue to build Reynolds Rarities as an independent collection and dealing business. I work with clients and collectors throughout the United States and internationally, supported by a longstanding network of jewelers, gemstone dealers, collectors, designers, and specialists. This network gives me access to an extensive range of gemstones and mineral specimens, including stones from highly specialized and niche markets.
My interests extend well beyond gemstones. I have dealt in fine and vintage jewelry, minerals, fossils, gold and silver, decorative and numismatic pieces, and other objects that capture my curiosity. Whether sourcing a particular stone, finding an unusual specimen, or helping an object find its next collector, I love the process of discovering what makes each piece unique.
In addition I am also an inventor, with six patents reflecting the same curiosity and problem solving mindset that has shaped my career in gemology and before.
Reynolds Rarities is ultimately about the search; finding remarkable objects, understanding what makes them special, and getting them to the right person to enjoy or use in their own creation.
I believe the best collections are built around curiosity. Some pieces are valuable because of their rarity or craftsmanship; others simply stop you in your tracks with no explanation. Reynolds Rarities is a place to explore the unusual, the beautiful, the historically interesting, and the things that are simply too good to leave undiscovered.
