Biography

I was drawn to shiny rocks and gemstones since my early childhood. At the age of 14 I went on my first gemstone mining trip and my very first rock that I have mined with my own hands was a huge 155.0g museum piece of Moravian Moldavite. 7th largest Moldavite ever found! This unique experience solidified my future in the industry and as you can imagine, that 14 year old boy became completely obsessed with what the future could bring.

When I turned 19, I left the home I grew up in and began traveling the world in search of the highest quality gems for my evolving clientele. I concentrated exclusively on genuine and untreated gems. I was a niche player in a giant industry filled with people who dealt with heated, irradiated, oiled, and diffusion treated products. I have always held the belief that Mother Nature could always out-perform the influences of man, and to this day I have built a successful career on this principal. The beauty, intrigue, rarity of natural and untreated stones will always have an important place in the market and allow businesses like mine to succeed.

Today, my business model is built around several mining projects in Eastern Africa and Mexico, and buying bulk quantities of highest quality gemstone rough directly from other miners, and manufacturing the rough through partnerships with highly skilled master cutters from the European Union and the USA.

In 2017 I purchased the world famous PANA Mine in Oregon that has been consistently producing the finest, rarest, and most beautiful variety of Oregon Sunstone. My gemstone mining experience in Oregon culminated in 2018 when I created and launched OregonSunstoneGuide.com which is the the most comprehensive educational & marketing website about this unique rare American gemstone.

I was always obsessed with rare, high-value gems from Russia, as these gems were always very difficult or impossible to find on the US, EU or even Asian markets. I was especially attracted to Demantoid, Alexandrite, Malkhan Tourmaline, Sibirlit, and Danburite. I started establishing my presence on the Russian market since 2017 and in March 2020 I started importing some of the highest value Ural Mountains and Siberian gems to my Arizona location.

I started developing the MASTERPIECE COLLECTIVE project in May 2020 and as of September 2020 we have 16 world-class members, and as a team we are able to produce the widest range of gemstone faceting & carving styles and jewelry design ever available to public. We strictly work with the rarest, highest quality gemstones from Africa, Russia, USA and Mexico. We are about to launch masterpiece-collective.org website and further expand our presence on the US and international markets. MASTERPIECE COLLECTIVE is currently seeking partnership with high-end jewelers and jewelry houses from the USA and around the world.

I am currently expanding my presence both in Russia and Eastern Africa with other exciting projects in works.