The
Collector is an unusual shop showcasing fine jewelry, mineral specimens
and objets dart. Its story is a fascinating one.
In
1968, gem and mineral connoisseur, William Larson, formed what later
became Pala International and purchased three San Diego County gem
mines: the Stewart Lithia, Tourmaline Queen, and Pala Chief. Located
in the foothills of northern San Diego County, these mines are part
of a local mining history dating back to the 1800s.
The
most important gem mined here is tourmaline. Gemstone production
during the early 1900s exceeded two million dollars, with American,
European and Oriental gem houses actively involved, including Tiffanys,
who had part-time buyers in the Pala and Mesa Grande mining districts.
Chinese were particularly fond of tourmaline, and large quantities
were shipped to China for use in carvings and on mandarin clothing.
With
the emergence of Pala International in the late 1960s, organized
mining was again on the upswing. Although the Stewart Lithia produced
small pockets of tourmaline, it was not until 1972, with a strike
at the Tourmaline Queen, that the true potential was revealed.
In what was one of the finds of the century, large gemmy tourmaline
crystals were unearthed. The Candelabra, an exceptional
piece from that strike, is now on exhibit at the Smithsonian Institute
in Washington, DC.
Further reading: