Topaz

Item Description

This specimen of topaz is gorgeous on its own merit, with two fine, lustrous, glassy, slightly blue crystals arranged to make a V-shaped cluster. It is complete 360 degrees all around, without damage. It has wonderful glassy luster that is the highest possible for the locale. It is not repaired or restored, and is beautiful just as it sits on a shelf. Moreover, it is from a classic discovery of the late 1990s in Namibia, which Gene Meieran funded with collaborators including dealer Wayne Thompson and the late collector, musician James Horner. Gene and Wayne flew to Namibia and were there at the time for several mining projects, teaching locals about the tools and methods of specimen recovery to extract more value locally by selling gem crystals as specimens instead of only as gem rough. They financed and operated projects here and at Otjua Mine in Karabib, Namibia. Their mining venture recovered some very fine specimens, including many of the best yet recovered in undamaged condition for the collector market. This fine small cabinet was kept by Gene as a souvenir of the project, and was obtained at the mine in Namibia at the time it came out in the 1990s.