A 3-cm-across, sharp, dramatic, textbook crystal of wine-red garnet sits here on a well trimmed matrix. This is an old and rare style, for the locality, quite different from the generally matte finish crystals you usually see from here in a variety of browns and orange colors (and, from one large find of the past, in pink). The crystal is well excavated without any repairs, and is nearly pristine (just the tiniest little dings are present, in context on such a sharp, exposed crystal). The piece is a significant Mexican garnet specimen and has the aesthetics you would want in garnet from other localities, but seldom see in the lumpy matrix characteristic of this particular location. Ex. Dave Stoudt Mexico Collection, and previously in the Evan Jones Mexico Collection (both being very notable for the suites assembled). Joe Budd photos.