Fred W. Ward

Before becoming widely known for books on gemstones, Fred Ward built a long career as a photojournalist. Obituaries and professional tributes describe him as a Washington-based photographer whose work appeared in major publications including Time, Life, Newsweek, and National Geographic, and whose photographs captured presidents, public figures, and scenes from around the world.

His reporting on gems gradually became a specialty and then a second career. Sources from Gem Book Publishers and industry coverage say he traveled extensively in the gem trade, earned a Graduate Gemologist diploma from GIA, and wrote a series of books on stones such as diamonds, emeralds, jade, opals, pearls, rubies, and sapphires. Some of that work was written with his wife, Charlotte Ward.

What makes his author profile especially appealing is the blend of expertise and lived experience behind the books. Rather than writing from a distance, he was known for visiting mines, markets, and cutting centers himself, turning technical subjects into stories filled with place, history, and human detail.