Capistrano Mining Company

"Your direct source for Sapphire Gravel Paydirt from the Sapphire Mines of Montana, 

Benitoite Ore from the Benitoite Gem Mine in San Benito County, CA,

along with U.S. Mined Gemstones and Fine Mineral Specimens from the United States and Worldwide."

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 Benitoite is one of the rarest gemstones on earth.
Gem quality Benitoite is only found one place,
 a small area in San Benito County, CA.

Benitoite can range in color from dark blue with violet,
 to light blue, white to colorless.

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I cannot state this enough, be careful when purchasing any benitoite.

Beware of large inexpensive Benitoite Gems being sold from India, they are FAKE! 

Due to it's rarity and steep increases in price within the last few years for good quality benitoite gemstones, there are some dealers trying to sell other blue gemstones as benitoite. Be especially cautious when buying benitoite from Thailand and other countries outside of the U.S., or "certified" from these countries. If the stones purchased do turn out to be benitoite, then they rarely live up to their "certification". If you look at the photos of their stones, the photos are always color enhanced, the stones are lesser quality than listed, and the cut of the stones, well let's just say you'll get what you pay for. Remember that anyone can make up a "certificate" on a computer and say that a gemstone is certified. Just always do your research and "Let  the Buyer Beware".

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Benitoite Color Suite, 1.75 mm, with 1 Heat Treated Orange Benitoite

Pieces: 6,
Clarity: VVS
Type: Benitoite,
Luster: Excellent ,
Origin: San Benito County, California  USA,
Weight: .14 tcw
Size: approx. 1.75 mm each
Color:  Dark Blue to Colorless to Orange
Shape: Round Brilliant Cut

Here is an amazing rare color suite of 1.75 mm faceted benitoite gemstones.
These stones are very small, but still very brilliant.
All of the stones have at least eye clean clarity with amazing fire.
Only a few sets of these amazing stones are assembled each year! 
This set shows all the different color of benitoite, from deep blue with violet in color, to colorless, to a slight peach / Orange.
Yes, I said Orange!
The most popular color for benitoite is that deep blue with violet color that benitoite is known for. 
This color is 100% natural and any attempts to heat treat these blue benitoite just destroy the stones.
The rarest natural color for benitoite is actually colorless or some call them white. 
These stones lack the popular blue color but look very much like diamonds.
However these crystals are very rare and most often form as very small crystals. 
What very few people are aware of is that, only these rare colorless / white benitoite can be heat treated.
When properly heated, they will never turn blue, but instead they turn beautiful shades of Peach to Orange.
Very few stones are ever heated and as you can imagine most stones are destroyed during this process, 
leaving only very few to ever hit the market in any given year. 
For these reasons there will never be any commercial production of these colored benitoite.
This is a rare set. Only a very few of these sets can be made year year, I only have a few others in different stone sizes.
A truly beautiful collector set!

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Please check out my other items, mineral specimens, loose gemstones and jewelry currently available for sale!


International buyers...... Please note that full purchase price is put on customs forms for international shipping. 

If this does not work for you, please contact me before making your purchase. 

International buyers, please note that if you purchase the least expensive shipping, your shipment cannot be tracked.