I recently visited this
exhibition and it was well worth it. There are items of estate jewelry, including a fabulous butterfly made of diamonds,
some of which glow when placed under UV light. Crystal specimens, including tourmaline which is found in San Diego County
and some examples of Benitoita the State Stone of San Diego - this is all mined out now, but is a similar color to sapphire.
When the deposits were first found the stones were believed to be sapphire until tested by gemologists.
All items on display are loaned from private collections, the Gia in Carlsbad and Pala International, who are also based in California and are sellers and collectors of mineral specimens and gemstones.
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| Aurora Butterfly of Peace Photo by Robert Weldon, courtesy of The Aurora Gems |
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| Aurora Butterfly in the dark |
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