Quartz var. Smoky (gwindel) Ex. Britt Coll.

Item Description

Smoky quartz "gwindels" (derived from German for contorted, or twisted) are a Swiss classic, and this wonderful example is a great addition to any alpine mineral collection. This specimen is nicely smoky in color and has wonderful luster and sharp edges. Given their rarity and how many tend to stay in Europe, and be prized by the people who found them, it is certianly less easy to find a nice gwindel on the market than a normal quartz point. When available, they tend to be expensive and since USA dealers mostly have to buy them second or thirdhand, pricey as well. And, justifiably so because they are rare, and these jewels of the Swiss peaks require incredible feats of exertion and risk to climb and extract. This is a really fine example of this classic, highly desirable material.