Big Game Big Give- Gaea Rare’s Contributions to an Extraordinary Event

Gaea Rare recently attended and contributed to the country’s largest and most lavish charity event in the country, the Big Game Big Give. We are proud to have been a part of the 25th anniversary of such a wonderful organization and event.

Gaea was honored to provide an approximate value of $2 million worth of rare and luxurious crystals, gemstones, fixtures, and furnishings to host a lavish showcase at the event. This also marked a piece of history being made, as Gaea was the first to gather such a large and diverse curation from multiple suppliers and multiple countries all under one banner.

Among the items in the curation was the world’s single-most extravagant bath tub, a single hand carved three person tub. Alongside the tub were the world’s largest pair of citrine wings, a functional design crystal water fountain, a naturally formed crescent moon citrine, a naturally formed heart citrine, a museum-grade amethyst from Bolivia, and several other exclusive pieces from India, Colombia, and several other exotic regions.

Fundraising for the Vincere Cancer Center, this event was able to work directly with firefighters and other organizations of the Scottsdale community. Gaea was proud to have donated $20,000 cash while also representing the brand on behalf of the event. The Gaea team looks forward to future success and philanthropy.

Discover the World’s Largest Quartz Crystals

World's Largest Quartz Crystal
Largest Display Cluster, Quartz. Namibia, Crystal Gallery.

The world’s largest quartz crystal on display resides in Swakopmund, Namibia. This piece was pulled from a Namibian mine 135 feet deep, and weighs an incredible 14,100 Kgs. The excavation of the piece took over three years before finding its home at the Crystal Gallery in Swakopmund.

Coleman Mine Multi-Million Quartz Cluster
The $3.5 Million Quartz Cluster pulled from the Coleman Mine in Arkansas.

This amazing quartz cluster was excavated from the Coleman Mine in Jessieville, Arkansas. It sports beautiful clear points, amazing luster, and took 4 days to pull out of the mine. It is over 8 feet in diameter and weighs 2,000 pounds (~907 kg). The majority of the piece’s value does not come from it’s size, but rather the condition, luster, and unique features specific to such a find.

 

Berns Quartz Cluster
The Bern Quartz Cluster out of Arkansas.

Another fabulous Arkansas origin piece, the Bern Quartz is housed in the Smithsonian Museum of Natural History. This single cluster stands 7 feet tall and weighs over 8,000 pounds (~3630 kg), and is the largest piece within the Smithsonian. This piece originally hailed from Arkansas’ Ouachita Mountains, a renowned hotspot for quartz crystals. To date, is the largest single cluster taken from the Ouachita’s.

Quartz with Gold- Australia Mine.
A large quartz rock containing large gold deposits found in Australia.

Although very common quartz can be seen in this find, what lies within it shocked the miners who discovered it. Over $10.4 million worth of gold weighing in at 116 kg between two separate quartz rocks was found in Western Australia. Mined by Canadian firm RNC, the mining company confirmed that this ranks among the world’s top discoveries in history for a single, pristine gold deposit.

Rose Quartz- What You Need To Know

Rose Quartz is symbolic of love due to its notoriously famous pink coloration. This beautiful pink crystal gains its coloration from pink variations of borosilicate. Along with its pink coloration, rose quartz is typically a stone full of luster and translucent properties visually.

Rose quartz originates in mines all over the world, with varying levels of quality specific to each unique specimen. Many of the most popular pieces are from Brazil. Rose quartz has been dated back to jewelry from 7,000 BC and has a history amongst the Romans and Assyrians. Ancient Romans even used the beautiful crystal as a royal seal.

Rose quartz is particularly sought after not only for its beautiful coloration, rarity, and structure, but also because it has the wonderful property of being unharmed by light exposure. Most crystals suffer some degree of diminishment over time when exposed to light, but rose quartz does not fall victim to this. This makes rose quartz exceptional for collections and displays.

The divine feminine and maternal energy rose quartz possesses is typically associated with its gorgeous pink hues. Rose quartz is utilized as a therapeutic stone, enhancing love and romance for its owner. Love for family, friends, and lovers alike all benefit from rose quartz.

To find the best Rose Quartz in the world, explore with Gaea Rare.

Shungite- What You Need to Know

Shungite: Healing Crystal With Rare Properties
Shungite: Healing Crystal With Rare Properties

Shungite is one of the most sought after healing crystals in the world. Likely deposited here from an asteroid impact years ago, shungite is a carbon-rich healing crystal notorious for its exceptional properties.

Shungite’s composition is made up of fullerenes, which are 3-dimensional spherical molecules composed of 60 carbon atoms. These carbon-rich structures contribute to the healing properties of this crystal, and is exceptionally rare amongst most other comparable crystals. Another peculiar and rare property of shungite is that almost all elements of the periodic table are present in shungite.

Proper scientific research on shungite is lacking, due to its rarity and inherent obstacles to properly conduct experiments using the scientific method. Despite this, research that does exist on shungite bolster the fact that the fullerene content in shungite are what create the crystal’s benefits and properties.

Based on strong anecdotes or lightly researched scientific studies, shungite can kill viruses and bacteria, purify water, is a powerful antioxidant, reduces inflammation, and shields from electro-magnetic fields.

Shungite is useful for being a powerful healing crystal, is one of the blackest stones in existence, and is known for relieving stress and negativity. It has a rare and exceptional carbon content, and is historically used to cleanse everything from people to water sources. The primary source of shungite comes from Russia where some of the most elite shungite specimens originate. However, the recent war in Ukraine has made Russia a difficult trade partner, and in turn, makes sourcing shungite very difficult.

Luckily, any shungite hunters out there may be pleased to discover that recent finds in Colombia have produced bounties of quality, authentic shungite. On average, Colombian shungite is not as pure as Russian shungite, but there are still exceptional specimens that are coming to market. As these rare shungite specimens come from Colombia, Russian sources may be hard pressed to re-enter the market once the war in Ukraine cools.

Hunting for the best and rarest shungite currently available?

Stop by Gaea Rare, where our supplier-partners from Colombia have helped us curate the finest and rarest shungite currently on the market.

Gaea- Greek Goddess of the Earth and Mother to All

gaea
Gaea (bottom right) rising from the Earth.

Ancient Greek mythology describes Gaea as the Mother of Earth and was worshipped as the Mother Goddess before the introduction of other temples of thought. She was born out of nothingness as the original Goddess of the universe.

Her offspring included titans, humans, and other Gods. From the titans spawned the Olympians, and from other Gods spawned more Gods. She is notorious for her loving nature as she is the Mother of all things beautiful.

Interpretations of what is commonly referred to in modern terms as “Mother Earth” can be traced back to Greek mythological studies focused on Gaea. Today, we find Gaea in many different forms. Environmental practices, connection to nature, and the love of beauty all stem from the Mother of Earth- Gaea.

Explore the beauty of Mother Gaea with our hand-curated selection of the finest crystals and gemstones.

Gemstones: Agate- What You Need to Know

You may have heard of agate before, but its elusive name does not lend a proper definition unless you’re already familiar with the stone. Agate is a semi-precious variant of quartz, made up of a cryptocrystalline structure of chalcedony. Chalcedony is a commonly mined mineral around the world, making it a common crystal.

The agate gemstone is formed in hollow, cooled lave cavities. Silica formed in these cavities captures water and forms a gel. Iron-rich rock infuses with the gel, and as water dissipates from it, the gel then cools into a crystalline structure forming agate.

Agate rarity is valued by weight, coloration, color distribution, and the internal composition of the agate. Most agate are extremely common, so finding a properly rare specimen can be hard to come by. Researching any specific specimen’s characteristics are paramount in verifying the rarity of agate pieces. Use an expert if needed, agate is known as a common category of fraudulent and artificial stones that are sold without the knowledge of the buyer being sold false goods.

Browse a selection of rare stones, including rare agate, at Gaea Rare. Happy hunting.

Gemstones: Bloodstone- What You Need to Know and How it Affects Your Life

The bloodstone is a gemstone made up of Heliotrope. It is identifiable as a gem with deep, dark colored earthy tones and beautiful accents of red distribution throughout the stone. Its beauty has been renowned for millennia, with historical evidence of the semi-precious gem being used in jewelry, art and pottery, and healing.

Typically, bloodstone is the combination of two types of quartz: Jasper and Chalcedony. The Chalcedony gives a deep, earthy green coloration accompanied by the Jasper lending rich blood-like coloration to the gem. Although there may be variation in color distribution, the luster of this gemstone is defined consistently as waxy.

The ancient cultures exposed to bloodstone used it as both spiritual and physical healing. Spiritually, the bloodstone is associated as the gemstone representing the sun. For growth, warmth, and prosperity, the bloodstone reflects the sun’s power in spiritual practice. Physical healing used bloodstones as a means of promoting blood circulation, organ health, and vitality.  Bloodstone is a powerful gemstone, and emits the power of the sun both upon and around the user. Its physical and spiritual power is insurmountable.

Bloodstone is also representative of many ancient goddesses, primarily those who oversaw fertility and womanhood. Women of all ages and backgrounds were able to promote their wellbeing with the use of bloodstone. This gem is particularly powerful for promoting feminine welfare.

In home design, bloodstone can contribute to the earthy feng shui of your space. Its dark greens and bloody/sunny reds ground nature into a space, promoting creative growth. The clarity it brings by grounding one in their natural space can disrupt obstacles within the creative or growth process.

Gemstones with properties like bloodstone are precious within the home, and precious to those who use them. For interior design ideas with bloodstone, Gaea recommends infusing these trends with your creative outlook on bloodstone’s uses.

To find luxurious pieces of bloodstone for your design, always look at to Mother Gaea.

Luxury Interior Design- What to Know, History, and an Argument for it’s Promotion

Interior design has been the cornerstone of creativity, productivity, and the overarching integration of humanity into homes, businesses, public works, and anywhere else you can think of that has an “inside”. At its core, interior design focuses on the individual, and then the collective, as a methodical means of promoting what makes us human.

Luxury interior design is a more opulent approach meant to strategically and thematically promote the individual in an almost hyper-sensual manner. Every last detail that can be rendered by the senses must be accounted for. Vision, fragrance, sound, physical feel, and certain contexts demand taste also be considered. All of which culminate into an impactful and inspiring design.

The creative methodology to achieve luxury interior design that is impactful and inspiring is what makes the best interior designers the best. The execution of creativity on a custom space is no small challenge. Designing a smooth flow with an opulent feel around the client’s vision is the conclusive obstacle between interior design flash-in-the-pan trend chasing, and the formation of a thematic statement  that achieves its intended impact. Luxury interior design is not summed up by a set of rules, but by inspiring this impact.

What would design inspire if material cost wasn’t a factor?

Gazing into the human psyche is the initial step to answering that question.

History is rife with luxury interior design. The minds of our ancestors and great thinkers of the past used design to promote their humanity.

The ancient Romans were prominent utilitarians of luxurious interior design. Their homes were infused with vibrant mosaic backsplashes, towering pillars and columns, tasteful marble accents, ornate geometric patterns, and some even incorporated modern tastes like interior courtyards.

Public works and common areas utilized an open-source approach on luxury design. Archways were used in the aqueducts that ran water to the citizenry. Temples, libraries, and markets are renowned for their looming columns, many of which are preserved ruins today and are the symbol of ancient Rome.

A common theme in the approach to Roman architecture as a whole was that if one could build, they shall be free to do so. There was an overwhelming emphasis within Roman culture to promote the artfulness of architecture, representative of Roman sentiment in regard to the human spirit.  One of the few known architects of Rome, but the most respected, was Vitruvius. In his words, the guidelines for Roman architecture were, ‘All buildings must be executed in such a way as to take account of durability, utility and beauty.’ (From Chapter 3, Book 1, On Architecture)

Modern guidelines for design are swamped with bureaucracy, codes, addendums, rules, and exemptions. Just take a look at modern commercial real estate, of which the majority is utterly hideous. Why would the Romans strictly adhere to enforcing beauty as a staple guideline?

Inherently fusing luxury, artfulness, and design together made Rome the mecca of architectural inspiration. Promoting beauty promoted the wellbeing of any participant within the design of the architecture. The Romans were so strict about design guidelines- which lended itself to making them absolutely excellent at design- that modern societies have been entranced by their achievements.

Current standards for these guidelines are subpar, at best. At worst, just take a look around. The Romans understood the connection of set and setting, designing around humans instead of the other way around. In comparison, a strong argument can be made that our predecessors within Rome were eons ahead of many financiers, policymakers, and builders of today. One of the great, unspoken tragedies of modernity is the outright absence of beauty within public and commercial architecture.

Illustrating this tragedy in comparison to the momentousness of luxury design emphasizes its crucial benefits. Connection, spiritual inspiration, artfulness, creativity, beauty. All of these are bolstered by the fact that the world lacks so much of it today.

Modern design can be swayed by trends that are merely temporary, or by outdated corporate bottom lines that need filling by selling products. Trends come and go, corporate products lack craftsmanship and soul. Achieving a modern luxury design isn’t inherently an endeavor of expense, it is a journey to dive deep into the exploration of possibility.

Quality is necessary to stave off the allure of trends and gimmicks, and helps avoid pitfalls within a corporation’s product line (corporations spend a lot of money brainwashing you into thinking they care about you, they don’t). Experiencing the design is more important than displaying the status of the design. It doesn’t matter how much the vision of the design cost to fulfill, a design not capable of evoking an experiential setting is unfulfilling and worth far less than whatever it cost. The design should feel correct for the context in which the design exists. This appropriate feel is what makes or breaks successful design, and promotes its impact.

Correct feel in modern spaces requires balance and harmony. Screens, technology, and wires pervade space and are atrociously artificial. Diluting this invasive artifice requires the use of nature within a space. Metal and wood, placed and emphasized correctly can diminish the invasive nature of technology.

Aside from natural finishes traditionally sought after in luxury interior design, a fresh alternative is the introduction of natural fine art. Crystals and gemstones evoke a curiosity other materials simply have no ability to evoke. The unique formation of these stones, their properties, and their aesthetic promote a genuine exclusivity and rarity. No two pieces are alike, no two specimens evoke the same emotion. Each one resonates with its owner in a special bond, deeply rooted in the psyche of the individual.

Cultural taste has finally caught up to the opulence offered by crystals. Unfortunately, the market as a whole is muddled with fake, artificial, or low-grade stones. They lack authenticity, and therefore render themselves obsolete in attaining any clout within the realm of luxury interior design.

Achieving true luxury design would make the focal point of procurement the attainment of high grade crystals that have impact. The feel of the stone is affected by a myriad of factors such as type, coloration, properties, size, shape, dimensions, even the crystal’s first impression upon an individual. Correctly matchmaking a crystal to an individual or a specific setting makes the difference between design with impact and collecting a stone.

Gaea Rare is the only player on the field with the ability to curate and procure stones that are capable of making an impact. Looking for that special bond to elevate your luxury tastes and design?

Visit gaearare.com and explore your creativity.

All Things Amethyst

Perhaps the most recognized and sought after quartz crystal specimens in the world are amethysts. They are characterized as a semiprecious mineral distinctly known for their vibrant violet hue.

The ancient Romans sought the stone for its properties to stave off drunkenness, or better said, its properties to maintain a sober state of mind. Medieval Europeans would increase moral within military ranks using amethyst, using its properties of mental clarity to promote level-headedness on the battlefield. The ancient Chinese used amethyst to avoid the hazards of daily existence. Many ancient and modern practices involve using amethyst as a means to attract wealth and maintain mental fortitude.

Amethyst is a thick, sturdy type of quartz crystal. It should be handled, packaged, and displayed with care despite its rigidity. To maintain and promote the longevity of amethyst, make sure it avoids any excess heat or light. Excess heat can dim the coloration of amethyst, while excess light attacks the irradiation that composes the gorgeous purple hues of amethyst.

This distinct purple hue in amethyst is the result of irradiated iron elements within the crystal structure replacing silicon elements during formation of the amethyst quartz. Levels of iron within the amethyst don’t necessarily correlate to its value, however, and most of the market value for amethyst stems from the desire for the highest coloration within an amethyst specimen.

Amethyst with deep, rich purple hues, traces of blue or red, and large disbursement and depth of these colors are typically what make amethyst desirable. The deeper the hues, the richer the color, and the preservation of these colors during the cutting process or shipping process all tie into the value of amethyst.

Searching for high quality amethyst with deep and rich hues?

Go to gaearare.com to find the highest grade amethyst available in America.

Crystals, and Gems, and Fossils- Oh My!

Crystals are the new diamonds, and people are going crazy finding high quality crystals. In cities like Los Angeles, high-end commercial real estate, hotels, and homes are buying up massive crystals to display, heal, and promote the feng shui of specific spaces.

Feng shui is a movement and design principal that promotes balance in a certain space or setting. Crystals are the freshest way to bring balance in modern homes. Inside spaces filled with screens and other artificial contraptions, crystals reconnect you and your home to the Earth in a magnificent way. To really hone in on your space’s feng shui, we highly recommend checking out this article.

Crystals come in a variety of different types, shapes, and sizes, but overall increase the Earthly connection of any given space. They are majestic conduits that connect you to the Earth.

You can find some of the rarest and finest crystals at gaearare.com.