Smoky Quartz ("Closed Gwindel") (ex Kay Robertson Collection)

Item Description

Smoky Quartz specimens from the Swiss Alps are famous for their excellent form, size and quality. Some of the most sought after habits from these mountains are the famous "Gwindel" Quartz specimens. The word "gwindel" is German for "twist", and typically these groups will have a defined twist to the crystals, but this piece is what is commonly called a "Closed Gwindel", meaning very little twist is present. The crystals are VERY gemmy, with a soft smoky hue and a matte luster with only a tiny bit of attached matrix. The group is actually doubly-termianted and nearly 100% pristine (only a few minor imperfections). Ex Kay Robertson Collection (#10339). Kay is a prominent California collector, who specialized in European classics (see the article in the March-April, 2007 Mineralogical Record and the 50+ page article in the German Magazine "Mineralien Welt" November-December 2017).