important Blue Topaz on Microcline (Meieran Coll.)

Item Description

This is certainly the most important matrix blue topaz from Namibia on the modern market at this moment, that we know of (and, the previous owner concurs), and one of the more important that exist in this condition and impactful size. Gene Meieran specialized in matrix gem crystals throughout the 1990s-early 2000s, and even invested in mining to be able to get first access to things like this, which we are honored to be able to auction publicly for the first time. Gene Meieran and Wayne Thompson helped to finance some of the earliest fine specimen mining here, in the hopes of retrieving important specimens from the known gem topaz locality. In the 1990s, they travelled there themselves to make arrangements, and this is the best topaz to come from their several years of financing the working of Namibia gem deposits (they also mined the Otjua Mine for tourmaline). The large matrix-bound crystal cluster is 7.5 cm x 6.5 cm x 6 cm thick and is NOT REPAIRED - nothing short of miraculous for this size of a gem specimen from Namibia. The color is amazing, somewhere between blue and seafoam blue color, with a unique color that is much richer and deeper in hue compared to modern material recovered here of a generally icy or pastel blue hue. In other words, it is not pale - it glows with color from across the room, when backlit. There is no damage to the termination atop. The bottom is partially terminated also, on the left hand side, with some very minor damage and a few spots of contact on the left side as well (pointing away from the display angle, in any case). No modern lab work or restoration has been done on this, which of course can improve that left side if desired, although since the rough contacts are not seen on the display face anyways, Gene never bothered - preferring to leave specimens as natural as possible. So, not only do we have one of THE major matrix gem crystals from all of Namibia here, but it is in a condition , and size, that simply is almost unbelievable. It is a privilege to be able to auction such a gem crystal! Valued ??? It is hard to say. There are really no comparables for Namibian matrix gem material in this size range, but a range of $35-45,000 seems reasonable when looking at the prices that smaller specimens regularly command.