Sell Your Mineral, Crystal & Rock Collection
Collections & Estates
Every great collection deserves a second life.
We buy private, inherited and estate mineral, crystal and rock collections nationwide, with in-person visits in Florida and the Southeast. If you've inherited a collection, or you're a collector ready to let some pieces go, I'd love to see it. I personally review every collection that comes to Crystals.com, and the best pieces are shown in our gallery with the collector's story and labels intact.
i.
Discreet
Your name and the collector's name stay private unless you'd like them honored. Nothing is shared without your permission.
ii.
Fairly valued
You'll get a clear written offer, and I'll walk you through how I arrived at it. We make offers on whole collections, so you're never left with what's left after someone cherry-picks the best pieces.
iii.
Handled with care
We can pack everything for you. Old labels, notebooks and boxes are kept together. They're part of the collection's history.
From our gallery
The caliber of piece we care for.
A few of the statement specimens that have passed through Crystals.com, each sourced and photographed by hand. Whether a collection holds one piece like these or a thousand small ones, every piece is looked at with the same attention.
What we look for
Natural specimens with a story.
Most of what we buy are crystals and minerals as the Earth made them, especially pieces gathered over decades by a collector who loved them.
- Well-formed crystal specimens and clustersQuartz, amethyst, fluorite, tourmaline, rhodochrosite, vanadinite and beyond
- Classic and old localitiesPieces from mines that are closed or no longer produce
- Old labels and "ex-collection" piecesHandwritten labels, catalog numbers, dealer tags
- Large statement and display piecesGeodes, cathedrals, cabinet-size specimens
- Whole estates and long-held collectionsInherited, downsized or decades in the making
Probably not the right fit
Tumbled stones, polished carvings and buckets of landscape rock aren't usually a match for our gallery. If that's most of what you have, tell me anyway. I'm happy to point you somewhere better.
A quick note: we buy natural mineral and crystal specimens. We don't buy oil and gas mineral rights, or glass and crystal figurines.
Unsure what you have?
Most people aren't, and that's completely fine. Send a few photos and I'll tell you what I see. If you'd like to understand your options first, read our guide: what to do with an inherited rock or mineral collection.
A note from the founder
A collection holds someone's whole life of looking closely. My job is to make sure the pieces that deserve it are seen again, and that the person who gathered them isn't forgotten.
Brittany Roughton, Founder
How it works
Simple, unhurried, no obligation.
1
Tell us
Share a few details below and send photos of the collection and any labels.
2
We review
I look at every submission myself and reply within a few business days.
3
We talk
A call or video walk-through. For larger collections, we can arrange to see it in person.
4
Your offer
A clear written offer, with no pressure to accept.
5
Payment & pickup
Once you accept, we arrange packing and shipping or pickup, and you're paid.
Begin here
Tell me about the collection.
This takes about two minutes. After you submit, you'll be able to email your photos directly to me.
Please add your name and a valid email.
Your information is only used to reply about your collection. You won't be added to marketing emails.
Received
Thank you. One last step: photos.
Photos tell me the most. Send a few overall shots, close-ups of your favorite pieces, and any labels. Phone photos are perfect.
Or send them to brittany@crystals.com with your name in the subject line.
Questions
Before you reach out
Do you buy whole collections or just a few pieces?
Whole collections are welcome. We'd rather take care of everything at once so you aren't left sorting through what's left. If parts of a collection aren't a fit for us, I'll tell you honestly and suggest where they might go.
How do you decide what to offer?
Quality, rarity, condition, locality, provenance (labels and previous owners), and how much demand there is for a piece all play a part. I'll explain the reasoning behind your offer.
Why might an offer be lower than an insurance appraisal?
Insurance appraisals usually estimate full retail replacement cost, which is different from what a buyer can pay for a whole collection. I'm happy to talk you through the difference so the numbers make sense.
Do you travel to see collections?
Yes. We visit collections in person throughout Florida and the Southeast, and can arrange visits elsewhere for larger collections. Smaller collections can usually be reviewed from photos and shipped to us from anywhere in the US.
Do you buy rocks, or only crystals?
Our focus is natural crystals and mineral specimens, but many collections are a mix, and that's completely fine. Send photos of everything and I'll let you know what we can take and where the rest might find a good home, such as a local mineral club or school.
What should I avoid doing before you see it?
Please don't clean, wash or glue anything, and keep every label, box, tray and notebook with its specimen. Those details are part of the collection's value.
I'm settling an estate. What will you need from me?
Just the details and photos to start. If we move forward, we'll ask you to confirm that you have the authority to sell (for example, as executor or trustee), and we'll provide a written bill of sale for your records.
Can you appraise my collection for taxes or a donation?
We don't provide formal appraisals for tax or donation purposes, since an independent appraiser should do that. We're happy to suggest where to find one.
Will the collector's name be honored?
Only if you'd like it to be. Some families love seeing a collection shown as "From the Collection of" their loved one, with the original labels and story preserved. Others prefer complete privacy. Both are fine.
What if some specimens are unusual or hazardous?
Older collections sometimes include radioactive or fragile minerals. Just mention it and don't worry about handling them. We'll take it from there.
Not ready to sell?
Explore pieces from our gallery, or let us find something specific for you.
Collector's Edition Private Sourcing
