The Crystal Classics Legacy

Crystal Classics is much more than a mineral dealership; it is a legacy, a brand, and a place of trust built over more than three decades. Take a few minutes to watch and discover the people, places and iconic discoveries that define Crystal Classics.

Our Story

Founded over 30 years ago by Ian Bruce, Crystal Classics is a company which rapidly became one of the most respected and pioneering dealerships of high-end mineral specimens in the world. Right from the beginning, Ian’s vision of Crystal Classics was of a company operating at the very highest level and, as its name implies, dealing in classic and historic mineral specimens. With a constant presence at all the important domestic and international mineral shows, Crystal Classics’ reputation was soon established, supplying top private collectors and the world’s major museums. 

Integral to the business has been specimen recovery projects, the first being the reopening of the upper levels at the Tsumeb mine, Namibia, in 1998. Another landmark project was at the El Infierno gold mine, Venezuela, in 2006. Here the famous ‘Golden Serpent’ wire Native Gold was discovered, without doubt, the joint-best wire gold (along with that at Harvard) in the world. This specimen is now part of the Crystal Classics logo.

Crystal Classics’ sister company, UK Mining Ventures, was founded in 2017 and continues to produce some of the best ever Fluorite specimens from its Rogerley, Diana Maria and Lady Annabella mines along the Weardale Valley in County Durham, England. Crystal Classics’ newest venture is the Tucson Fine Mineral Gallery in Arizona, USA, which opened to the public in early 2022. This state-of-the-art venue houses Crystal Classics’ largest showroom ever, and boasts probably the biggest showcase of classic minerals worldwide.

MEET THE TEAM

Ian Bruce

Ian Bruce, owner and founder of Crystals Classics, established the company in 1993. His lifelong passion and understanding of minerals is fundamental to what has made Crystal Classics the success story it has become.

Ian’s passion for minerals and geology goes back to his childhood, growing up in Devon. Soon after graduating with an Honours degree in Exploration Mining Geology from Cardiff University, he began setting up his business and in the process, travelling the world. Ian is well known on every continent, having established an international clientele of private collectors, worldwide museums, industry and academia. Crystal Classics is now one of the world’s leading dealerships in the very finest of mineral specimens. 

In 2013, a newly discovered mineral species, occurring as small blue or white crystals associated with Leiteite from the famous Tsumeb mine in Namibia, was named Ianbruceite in his honour.

Diana Bruce

Diana Bruce, Ian’s wife, also has a lifelong connection to minerals. Growing up in the beautiful and historic silver mining region of Erzgebirge in Saxony, Germany, both her grandfather and father were ardent about minerals.  

Her paternal grandfather, Fritz Herrmann Schlegel, discovered the new species Schlegelite, named for him and all together found eight new species from the area. Surrounded by such amazing specimens and a family deeply immersed in the mineral world, how could Diana not avoid becoming passionate about the subject?

Diana is now a joint director of Crystal Classics, its sister company UK Mining Ventures and proudly heads Viridis Gems, an exclusive collection of Fluorite jewelry, designed and cut using the best gem quality crystals extracted primarily from the Diana Maria mine in County Durham, England.

  • Debbie Boyer

    Debbie is the Chief Financial Officer of Crystal Classics and its subsidiary businesses. She has been with the company for 20 years and also serves as President of the Tucson Fine Mineral Gallery.

  • Stewart Neibert

    Stew has been an integral part of the Crystal Classics’ team since 2022 and oversees the running of our showroom at the Tucson Fine Mineral Gallery.