A Quest for Beauty
The treasures unearthed by Kunz formed the world’s greatest collection of gemstones, including exotic yellow beryl, demantoid (green) garnets and luminous aquamarines. Kunz was equally passionate about American gemstones, adding Montana sapphires, Maine tourmalines, and garnets and topazes from Utah to Tiffany’s burgeoning vault. Tiffany’s legacy of discovery continued well into the 20th century.
Kunzite
Around 1902, Dr. George Frederick Kunz, Tiffany & Co.’s chief gemologist, was sent specimens of the lilac pink mineral spodumene from the White Queen mine near Pala, California. In September 1903, a fellow gemologist proposed the name kunzite for the gemstone in honor of Kunz, the man who made beautiful gems his enduring passion.