3/14/2024 UPDATE: THERE IS ANOTHER ONE UP FOR SALE/AUCTION ON THE HERITAGE AUCTIONS WEBSITE WHICH ENDS ON MARCH 27th. CLICK HERE FOR LINK TO GO.
 
California Blue Cap Tourmaline, Queen Mine, Pala District, San Diego County, California, USA.  Having a blue cap to its flat termination, graduating to lighter pink and then deeper pink. The faces have classic striations and there is a small cluster of microcline feldspar at the base. Measuring 1.5 x 1.25 x 1.0 inches max.  Provenance: high end auction house catalogue.  Acquiring/Owning a blue Cap Tourmaline from the Queen Mine at Pala is the dream of most collectors that few ever get to fulfill. There are scarce few to go around, right around 100 crystals total came out according to the reports, and most of the major ones are in museums. The prices were high even when I was young, and I have watched them skyrocket in the last 20 years. Small singles can go in the $20k range. Any of the big ones that become available have million dollar prices. This one is a smaller nice crystal, yet very affordable. Where else will you find one for under $5-10k? This is one of those pieces that will only go up in value, being from the most notable gem mineral find in North America of all time, the ikonic Blue Cap Pocket of 1972. I think that Rob Lavinksy nailed it on the head when he said, "Blue-caps come up to market so seldomly that few collectors will ever get a chance to own a great one, regardless of wealth or access."
If you have been living in a cave since 1972 and need a reference on this find, CLICK HERE. I will try to get a video of this one uploaded soon, it is kept in secure storage at the bank. 
Billy traded the company for this piece, and it's now in his private collection.  He will sell it for the price listed, but will not consider offers.
 
3/14/2024 UPDATE: THERE IS ANOTHER ONE UP FOR SALE/AUCTION ON THE HERITAGE AUCTIONS WEBSITE WHICH ENDS ON MARCH 27th.  CLICK HERE FOR LINK TO GO.