This specimen is not only unusual, it is downright odd. A complete spherical ball of lustrous, dark green malachite, almost 7.0 cm across, formed on a cerussite matrix. Although only small amounts of massive cerussite can be seen, the heft of this specimen makes it likely that the whole core is probably cerussite, inside. Later growth of lustrous and translucent, emerald green dioptase crystals, to nearly 1.0 cm across, ensued. Although this specimen doesn�t get quite the highest marks for aesthetics (the top of the malachite ball is contacted slightly) and condition (some dioptase crystals are damaged), the combination of malachite and dioptase along with the weight from cerussite put this specimen in the "unique" category and it certainly stands out visually amongst a crowd!

An important, superb, colorful plate, in REALLY good condition. The crystals are to 1.5 cm in size and have TOP color. The form, not so obvious in photos as in person, is extremely 3-dimensional with a curving and mounded look. Minute orange specks you see are tiny little wulfenites. This is pristine except only the peripheral edges as you expect from removal. These were mined in the early to mid- 1980s and you CANNOT GET SUCH things now on the market. This is a very impressive for piece for the price, that I think is going to be hard to find out there in a comparable quality.

It is hard to get large dioptase specimens today in any kind of condition unless you want to pay a bloody fortune, six figures in several cases i have seen the last few years. However, I was able to get this as a fixer-upper from an older collector who had obtained it in the 1970s and never prepped it to remove the peripheral damaged parts which were distracting, that I had trimmed down to remove damage and enhance the display...and so now I can offer it for under 50k. I have never had a large diop of this quality, this price . They just have to cost more, almost a priori, normally. This is a massively large specimen to be in such good condition, almost 5 inches across and with dozens of crystals that are almost pristine with just a few teeny dings or damaged spots of no significance. It is the most desirable style in that they diops are both isolated and on white calcite. moreover, the calcite is crystallized and not just druse. I cannot tell you how many diops I have seen that do not possess these qualities! To make this really top, it does have the absolutely highest lustre you could ask for. The crystals are even translucent when backlit.

A Tsumeb dioptase of quality is a capstone in any display collection. "Poor Man's Emerald" as it was once called...ironic, because now that Tsumeb is closed and the best dioptase came out 20 years ago in the 1980s, they are harder to obtain and MORE expensive in many cases than real emeralds. And they only get harder to obtain, and higher priced, every year as we go on from the closure of Tsumeb. I love them, and stash them away for the future myself. This one is among the more elegant and sculptural pieces I have had, with gemmy crystals of highest quality to over 1 cm, perched on an attractive matrix. The matrix is coated with sparkling , drusy calcite for contrast - the best style. I see absolutely no reason save pricing this based on cost and not peak value, that this couldn't equally well be on a shelf at a show for 12-15k. Given the appreciation rate on dioptase and sweet home rhodos, its one of the few mineral species with a really trackable, steady appreciation rate over time which I would even guarantee by offering buyback with profit, down the road. ex. George Elling Collection

Dioptase gems in sizes above 1 carat are very hard to obtain. Although not totally clean, this is overall mostly transparent, and has an even and saturated color. A beautiful rare gem! A well-cut , rare gem - notable in size - cut by Spectrum Award winner Mark Kaufman.