On a small piece of white calcite (about 5 cm), a couple of dioptase crystals with a superb transparency and very deep color. The main crystal is 1.3 cm and exhibits extremely sharp edges on any side; the second is slightly smaller, but with the same excellent features. A little spray of very small crystals highlights the contrast with the white calcite and completes this exceptional miniature. The best quality you can expect from a Tsumeb dioptase: really a small nature's masterpiece! Absolutely, no damage.

This spinel from Burma is a real gemstone: if you were a jeweller, you could simply separate it from the matrix and put it on a ring without any additional effort! I purchased it at the Bologna Mineral Show in 2009. The crystal has a good size (0.9 cm), a perfect shape and a top-quality depth of color. Unlike most of similar specimens, the edges are not curved and the lightness is incredible. No comments on the contrast with the snow white matrix: look at the pictures and... dream!

A couple of crystals of Indicolite are placed on the opposite sides of a large plate of clevelandite, enriched with some elements of transparent quartz. Both the color and the geometry of the blue tourmalines are perfect and the transparency is really notable. The largest crystal (in this photo) is 1.5 cm tall, while the other one measures 1.3 cm. High contrast with the white matrix. An aesthetic collectible specimen.

In the recent years I've seen a lot of cinnabar specimens from China, often very shining and aesthetic. Nevertheless, none of them can really compare with this stunning, huge crystal (2 cm tall), vertically placed like a beryl: I name it my "red emerald"! A diffuse light is sufficient to get the natural transparency of the crystal in the pictures and the contrast of the ruby-red color with the snow-white dolomite is really astonishing. Among the many Chinese specimens in the collection, this is really one of the best.

A marvelous crystal of Wulfenite from the now closed Red Cloud Mine, up to 1.4 cm. The crystal is very transparent, has the typical very deep orange color and is positioned in an spectacular way, edgeways with respect to the matrix. Thus, both the brightness and the color are easily highlighted. Unlike several specimens coming from this famous locality, no damage affect this excellent miniature, even at the minor crystals you can see in the photos. I won this little jewel at an auction by Rob Lavinsky, in 2009.

What a fantastic sceptre of Amethyst from Sardinia! Vertically placed on a rather large plate (basically of chalcedony), this sparkling and perfect crystal of 2 cm contains many inner streaks and exhibits a wonderful color! Under the sun, it simply lights on as a bulb! Very sharp edges and incredible shape. This cabinet also includes another relevant amethyst crystal, but the main one really monopolizes the attention. I obtained this cabinet from my friend Beniamino Pasta, just at the Capurru quarry in 2009. A sceptre worthy of a king!

From the "Manual of the perfect miniature" this marvelous topaz summarizes all the qualities of a perfect specimen for collectors. The crystal is 2 cm tall, perfectly centered on the well-balanced matrix of quartz, clear and bright, absolutely free of any damage. Simply an uncut gemstone. Very aesthetic!