Tourmaline

Unknown Owner

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A VERIFIED King Mine tourmaline, said to have come out around the early 1900s, and which Bill obtained from Pete Bancroft (author of Gem and Crystal Treasures) many years ago. This piece was probably mined around 1900, and is the kind of material once sent to the Empress dowager of China when San Diego was a gem export center for the US (pre-WWI); and the Chinese carving market drove gem mining efforts there. Few documented, bona fide King Mine specimens can be said to be in private hands today. Moreover, this is a really colorful and classic style for the mine, with a bright pink tourmaline capped by a faintly blue-toned termination when looked at from the side (but it looks pink, looking down from above). This is valuable carving rough, and thus you can see why few survived. There is some slight wear on the edges, acceptable to me as it is a historic piece and I can give some allowance; and since it displays very nicely anyhow as the few dings are not visually detracting. Weight is 98 grams. The color on this one is OUTSTANDING. Bill told me he felt this was easily worth $10k. They just aren't available, period. And as you can see, he kept several in this collection due to their prized rarity within County collecting circles.