Jewelery and art have long fascinated both collectors and the general public, but more recently they have also incorporated fine minerals such as topaz, quartz and calcite.
A good example: The interdisciplinary art fair Masterpiece London, held at Royal Hospital Chelsea from June 30th to July 6th, is a new exhibition by New York-based Fine Minerals International to sell, buy and mine rare minerals. I will do it. This is the first time that a trade fair more than 10 years ago has exhibited minerals in a dedicated exhibition. 60 of these rare objects will be on display, including amethyst from the Goboboseb Mountains in Namibia, rhodochrosite in Colorado, and tourmaline clusters in Brazil.
Daniel Trinchillo, founder of Fine Minerals International, said he started collecting stones at the age of eight. “I found a garnet in the landscaping in front of my neighbor and was very impressed with how beautiful it was,” he said. “My lifelong pursuit of fine minerals began from that moment.”
Trinchillo described minerals as naturally formed compounds in a crystal-like shape. He said the five most popular varieties include tourmaline, aquamarine, crystallized gold, fluorite and rhodochrosite.
The exhibition at Masterpiece London coincides with a growing interest in fine minerals.
For example, Christie’s is currently holding two online auctions specializing in fossils, meteorites and fine minerals. According to James Hislop, Head of Science and Natural History, who oversees these sales. When Christie’s began selling objects in 2011, they were available annually at various auctions. Total sales at the time were $ 500,000, but the most recent auction that ended at the end of May was close to $ 15 million.
The American Museum of Natural History also opened a 11,000-square-foot space redesigned for gems and minerals last June.Called Allison and Roberto Mignon gem and mineral holesAccording to spokesman Scott Rohan, with over 5,000 minerals on display, it is one of the museum’s most visited areas.
In a recent interview with Idar-Oberstein of Germany, the world center of stone and gemstones, Trinchiro talked more about fine minerals and their up-and-coming popularity. These are edited excerpts from the conversation.
Why is it the right time to bring quality minerals to Masterpiece London?
Minerals have grown significantly in interest and value over the last decade. I first sold minerals for $ 1 million in 1999, but now it’s done on a regular basis.
Historically, collectors have come from a scientific background to value minerals in both complex chemical structures and colorful crystallization. Today, they value beauty and aesthetics over composition, and consider mineral luster, transparency, crystal form, and geometry.
How and why did your interest in collecting them grow?
Fine Minerals International currently sells $ 25 to $ 50 million in minerals annually. That’s half the number 10 years ago, but one in thousands of dealers. Collectors are looking for items in less saturated categories, and minerals provide it. The entry price is also reasonable. Build an entry-level mineral collection for thousands of dollars.
Why are some minerals so rare, and how are their values determined?
Rare earth minerals are minerals with complex chemical structures. It also has certain properties such as crystal quality, translucency, and color. Color-rich stones are usually more valuable.
Gloss is also important. It is more desirable if the surface is glassy and mirror-like in quality. Then there is the shape — the more geometric the stone, the more valuable it is. Blob-like stones are not very valuable.
Crystals that are more clearly defined and do not grow together in a jumble (this quality is called crystal separation) also make more money.
How are the minerals procured?
Some countries produce more minerals than others, such as China, Brazil, Pakistan, and many African countries, including Mozambique, Tanzania, Congo, Zambia, and Madagascar. In the United States, you can find them in Arizona and San Diego County. There are many gem mines in San Diego County.
But you don’t have to be far from home to find the minerals. There are quarries nationwide where you can find calcite, quartz and pyrite. Spend the afternoon mining is a very enjoyable activity and you pay a digging fee to do so. Herkimer Diamond KOA Resort, a few hours from New York, is one of my favorite ways to spend the day with the kids.
What is the size range of fine minerals, and are the larger ones more valuable?
There is no direct correlation between size and value. The most popular sizes and sweet spots for most collectors range from oranges to small melons. You can also find them in micro size, such as thumbnail size, or as much as 200 pounds.
What about the price? What are the entry points and limits?
Today, $ 1 million is common for the highest quality minerals, but it can be as high as $ 40 million.
What are the outstanding stones at the exhibition? And what are the features that make them special?
The blue cap tourmaline found at a mine in San Diego County in 1972 is on display. It’s about the size of a soda can, more than 500 million years old. The crystals are large and sharp, so they look like they were cut by a machine. They have a rich red tint and are covered in sapphire blue.
Stibnite in Hunan Province, China is also a highlight. A basketball-sized metal mineral containing sulfur and antimony that looks like a burst of crystals. Its three-dimensional quality is extraordinary. Probably worth about $ 125,000.
My third pick is crystallized gold from a mine near Sacramento, California. The luster is very shiny and vibrant. It’s worth nearly $ 500,000.
What advice would you give to buyers who are new to or interested in collecting fine minerals?
Get used to minerals as much as possible before buying anything. It’s worth going to a mineral show or gallery, as it’s best to see the minerals.You can also browse the following sites mindat.orgYou can also discuss different types of minerals around the world and peruse eBay.
The more you know, the more attractive you are and the more you can understand where you want to put your money.
My other tip is to buy what you like, not because you think it’s a good investment. Minerals are beautiful objects intended to be admired. As their owners, you must first and foremost thank them.
