About twelve years ago, I was attempting to buy an emerald gemstone for my sister and realized I knew very little about what to look for in a gem. In an attempt to educate myself, I consulted several gem and mineral resources and in the process discovered The Mineralogical Record magazine. This was the beginning of an addiction that would ensure that I would never have money in my pockets again.
After examining various issues of the magazine, I became spellbound by the beauty, aesthetics and perfection nature had achieved in select mineral specimens. I was hooked! My wife Joanne and I attended a mineral show in Franklin, New Jersey, USA in 1993 and were lucky enough to find many of today's top mineral dealers present. Joanne was immediately drawn to the beauty of the minerals and without any formal training, surprised me with her incredible ability to select the finest of specimens at a glance.
This was the start of a journey that has allowed us to view some of the finest mineral specimens ever discovered and along the way, collect a few.
