When it comes to investing, people may think of stocks, real estate, antiques, paintings, jewelry, red wines and watches. However, there has been an emerging investment trend in mineral specimens. To a sizable group of people, buying crystals is very much on par with investing in fine art. Founder, CEO, and president of Fine Minerals International, Daniel Trinchillo, regularly sells rare pieces for $1 million to $10 million and observes how they appreciate at breakneck speed. One client acquired a blue cap tourmaline in 2011 for $1.5 million, then sold it within two years for $2.5 million. The current owner is now fielding offers of around $5 million. The value of rhodochrosite has also skyrocketed. A piece that went for $20,000 in 1995 now collects between $200,000 and $400,000, or even a few million depending on the rarity. (source: www.fastcomapy.com)

Naturally formed crystals and mineral specimens are scarce resources, they are colorful, unique, and cannot be copied nor reproduced. Billionaires have long been in the chase for the choicest specimens and a growing number of wealthy collectors started to realize that exquisite crystals and minerals are better replacements of fine art and paintings. Not only do they have great investment values, but also can be passed on from generation to generation. The investment potential of crystals and minerals hit the big time now, a good piece could now be selling for 20-30 times what they were sold for 10-20 years ago. The Beijing Poly Auction culled US$504,285 in total sales from the 39 mineral specimens sold in 2017 and Christie’s took more than US$1.1 million from their mineral auction in 2020, there is no doubt the crystals and minerals market is on the up.