Dear Friend,
I've been sitting with this letter for a while now, trying to find the right words. Because this isn't just a business announcement. It's a deeply personal moment for me and my family, and I want you to feel every bit of what it means.
So let me start at the beginning.
A Dream That Started with Stones
Exquisite Crystals was born in 1999 out of passion. My father, John Sr., had a gift for seeing the extraordinary in every stone he held. He didn't just sell crystals, he sought them out with the dedication of a treasure hunter, searching to find specimens that were truly worthy of the name exquisite. Many of you have been with us since nearly the very beginning, and for that, I am more grateful than words can express.
I joined the business in 2007. I brought my retail and technical background to the table and worked to modernize our website (more than once!) but the most important thing I did was learn. I learned at my father's side, on buying trips, at gem shows, over shared meals and long conversations about what makes a stone truly special. It shaped me. It shaped all of us.
What made those years so magical wasn't just the stones. It was the people. At gem shows, we kept crossing paths with the same wonderful family: Karen, Bruce, Mirabai, and Luke from Hands of Spirit. They had the same hunger for high-quality, breathtaking specimens that we did. We'd swap finds, share tips, and bond over our shared love of the stones. Over time, they became more than acquaintances. They became friends, and in many ways, a part of our extended family.
Carrying the Legacy Forward
Several years ago, we lost John Sr. His passing left a profound hole, not just in our family, but in this business, he built with so much heart. Nora, my daughter, was in college by then, channeling her passion into international studies and human rights. And so, I began a quiet, careful search for the right people to carry Exquisite Crystals forward.
I didn't want just anyone. I wanted people who shared John Sr.'s reverence for quality. People who understood that when a customer unwraps a package from Exquisite Crystals, they should feel something: wonder, joy, a real connection to the natural world. I wanted custodians, not just business owners.
I found exactly that in Mirabai and Luke, the incredible duo who will be taking ownership of Exquisite Crystals, and who have been beautifully shaped by Karen and Bruce, Mirabai's parents, whose decades of wisdom, passion, and guidance made them who they are today.
Meet the Incredible Family Taking the Helm
This isn't a handoff to strangers. This is a passing of the torch to people who have spent their entire lives in love with the mineral kingdom, people who have already proven, again and again, that they hold quality and integrity above all else.
Mirabai grew up in this world. Her mother Karen started their first mineral and gem business back in 1995, and Mirabai has been immersed in fine minerals and gems ever since. She went on to earn her B.S. in Business from the University of Colorado, then pursued her Graduate Gemology Degree from the GIA, the Gemological Institute of America, the gold standard in gemological education. While studying there, she trained under a master in fine gemstones, jewelry, and diamonds for over two years. She manages marketing, sales, and is a cornerstone of the purchasing department. Mirabai doesn't just know crystals. She feels them. Her eye for quality is extraordinary, and her enthusiasm is contagious.
Luke came into this world by way of love, for Mirabai, and then inevitably, for the minerals too. After a career as a full-time active-duty member of the Colorado Air National Guard, he began attending gem shows, joining buying trips, and immersing himself deeper in the study of minerals. He even opened an eBay store to further hone his knowledge. After retiring from the military in 2024, he brought that same dedication and discipline to the business full time, now assisting with Instagram Live sales, operations, purchasing, and shipping. Luke is the steady, hardworking force that keeps everything running beautifully.
Karen is nothing short of remarkable. A Chemist by training, she is also a Certified and Accredited Melody's Crystal Healing Instructor who has taught workshops for over 25 years and maintains a private practice in Crystal Healing and Self-Mastery. She holds the rare ability to bridge the worlds of science and spirituality with grace and wisdom. Karen has been a longtime friend of John Sr., and they selected crystals side by side for years, sharing a mutual reverence for crystals and minerals that few people truly understand. Her eye for quality is impeccable, and her love of these stones runs deep.
Bruce rounds out this exceptional team with his own impressive background: a GIA Diamond Grading degree, years of experience managing a jewelry department, and a creative, problem-solving spirit that has grown the business's IT, shipping, and creative departments into something truly special. He is the kind of person who quietly makes everything better just by being in the room.
Together, they bring an unmatched combination of expertise, passion, and warmth to Exquisite Crystals. Mirabai and Luke are the new owners, stepping into this role with hearts full of purpose and a deep love for every stone they touch. And behind them stands the steady, guiding presence of Karen and Bruce, Mirabai's parents, whose decades of wisdom and passion have shaped and supported them along the way. They are not starting over. They are continuing a legacy. And I am so proud to place it in their hands.
A Moment of Gratitude for You
I want to pause here and say something that I mean from the bottom of my heart: thank you. Every one of you who has ever placed an order, sent a kind message, shared a photo of a stone you loved, or simply trusted us with your hard-earned money has been the heart of this business. You helped make the last two decades so meaningful for me and my family. You are the reason this business is worth passing on.
This transition wouldn't feel so joyful if it weren't for the community you've helped us build.
An Important Update on Shipping
With this exciting transition, Exquisite Crystals will be relocating to Colorado, which is wonderful news, because it means most of you will receive your packages even faster!
To make the move, shipping will be paused from noon on October 9th through October 19th. Orders received from October 9th onward will be shipped in the order they were received, starting October 20th. We truly appreciate your patience and understanding as we make this move, and we promise it will be worth the wait.
Exciting New Opportunities this Transformation Brings to You
Hands of Spirit offered their crystals, minerals, and jewelry at the Crystalline Temple in Boulder, CO and at Gems Shows around the Denver Metro area. During Covid, their venues transformed completely resulting in a fabulous Instagram page, @handofspirit. Mirabai and Luke host Live Sales approximately every 3 weeks on Saturdays and Sundays starting at 2 pm MT and running until 9 – 10 pm. With every Live Sale, Hands of Spirit gives back to a small Rescues, those that often fall by the wayside when people are making their annual donations. This is Mirabai’s other passion, and she uses @handsofspirit and their second Instagram page, @thecatsofhandsofspirit , to advocate for animals in the U.S. and many countries around the world, especially Venezuela and Indonesia. This means that every stone you purchase also helps animals in need.
Another amazing opportunity available to you is to join the Hands of Spirit Crystal Club. It is a private group that Mirabai and Luke “bring along with them” on their buying trips. The crystal, mineral, and jewelry offerings and the behind-the-scenes education provided can only be accessed within this Club! It is a world of fun, beauty and knowledge. It is run on WhatsApp due to the size of the group. For information on how to join the Crystal Club, you can send a private message or “DM” on Instagram to @handsofspirit .
Let's Stay Connected
Please send us a note to say hello. We would absolutely love to hear from you, whether it's a quick hello, a question, or just a photo of your favorite crystal sitting in the sunshine. This community means everything to us.
The best is yet to come. New treasures are waiting to be discovered, new memories are waiting to be made, and the future of Exquisite Crystals is sparkling brighter than ever.
With so much love and gratitude,
The Exquisite Crystals Family
John Jr., Mirabai, Luke, Karen & Bruce