Seven feet tall and encrusted with lavender spikes throughout its craggy interior, the one-ton amethyst throne required five men to muscle it through the double doors of gem shop Crystalarium.
The pandemic turbocharged the craze. Stuck indoors for much of the last year with fewer opportunities for discretionary spending, many well-off homeowners went on lavish redecorating and renovating sprees or bought new properties in need of furnishings. There was a treat-yourself mentality and a wellness-driven desire to infuse the home with mystical “healing” energy after a turbulent time.We’re offering L.A. Times subscribers first access to our best journalism. Thank you for your support.
As status crystals have become a coveted commodity, a constellation of related businesses are catering to rich collectors around the world.Beverly Packing in Bellflower specializes in handling and moving expensive artwork and “unusual pieces,” including all of Crystalarium’s enormous crystals. To transport especially unwieldy ones to customers’ homes, founder Mike Sarbakhsh builds a custom wooden crate and a platform that he said resembles an ambulance stretcher.
“The geode’s your big thing, around $20,000,” Chazanas said, rattling off the costs of such a project. “Construction is, you know, nothing crazy — let’s say five-to-seven thousand dollars to get everything situated. The contractor is anywhere from $10,000 to $15,000, so you’re looking all in: $40,000. That’s if you’re doing one large piece.
Martin bought many of his new crystals from Lenise Sorén, who owns two Sorenity Rocks galleries in Malibu; a third in Ojai is in the works. Right before the start of the pandemic, she opened a 2,300-square-foot “crystal sanctuary” in Point Dume to house her nonprofit organization, Malibu Gives.
I won door prize at local rock and gem show. We put our lottery tickets in there JIC.
Do you mean geodes?
Eat the rich
byandreachang 💎💎💎
byandreachang I think that “thing” is
Not so new lol. This has been trending for years!
Dude. This is all stuff you can see at the Tucson gem show every year for decades.
It was a thing in the '70s and '80's too. One NYC jeweler, 'H.Stern' as I remember, used to stock enormous crystals in their (5th or Madison Ave) store. Then in 2000's ,when they fell out of favor, I would see very large geods being sold at Estate Sales for less than $200.
More evidence that you can't buy good taste.
nice