Celebrate Kristalle's Golden Anniversary In Laguna Beach

LAGUNA BEACH, CA—Locals and tourists and mineral lovers, it's time to visit Kristalle in North Laguna. A 1934 cottage houses the 50-year-old “little rock shop,” as co-founder Dona Leicht affectionately calls it. Amber, amethyst, splendid geodes, shells, whole fossil fish, agate, coral and so much more are displayed on shelves or in illuminated glass cases everywhere.

Like given free rein behind the scenes at a natural history museum, you are allowed to open smooth-rolling wooden drawers. Inside, the drawers are divided to hold one specimen each, along with a little card declaring provenance and price. For instance, one small, unusual shell is described this way: "Chicoreus rossiteri/Crosse, 1872. Collected in tangle nets at 180-200 meters. Bohol Straits, Philippines."

Even though peering inside the cabinets is permitted, it feels naughty. But touch nothing; if you break it, you buy it.

Patch had just opened the $2 grab bag we purchased after being astounded by the argonauts when Dona herself emerged from her back office to sweep us up with her wit, warmth and dynamic energy. First stop on her tour of Kristalle’s 50-year history was “Wayne’s World,” a.k.a. her husband’s office. His passion for rocks was ignited in the third grade and has grown unabated.

But what about Dona? Did she also love rocks when Wayne took her on their first date to a quarry in the rain?

“No!” she says. “I got home and told my mother, ‘this guy is weird!’” This cracked up everyone, including shop manager Stephanie and website manager Jami. Clearly there was a second date, then a wedding in 1964.

The couple went on to source, collect, broker, barter, sell, consult, trade, appraise and exhibit earth’s precious stones and minerals. They are world-renowned experts, while being as down to earth as the shop first appears.

How did a young woman who had no connection to mineralogy and an earth scientist working for army intelligence in Maryland become international gem dealers and gold experts?

The newlyweds joined the Baltimore Mineral Society, and there met longtime Smithsonian curator Paul Desautels. Described by Dona as a true collection builder, Desautels took the pair on his buying tours and introduced them everywhere.

Dona says back in their original location on Forest Avenue, it was commonplace to walk in and see curators from the Smithsonian and the Sorbonne just sitting around, Desautels included.

In between gem shows, Wayne writes papers, performs professional appraisals and hunts for books on his beloved subject. Dona is off on adventures, digging in at tanzanite mines with her pal Peter Keller, now president of the Bowers Museum.

In Wayne’s office is a poster-sized photo of Keller with film actress Ann-Margret holding the “Mojave nugget,” a huge chunk of California gold. The Leichts had sold the magnificent piece of California gold to Petersen of Petersen Automobile Museum fame, who then donated it to L.A.’s Natural History Museum where Keller then worked.

All this name-dropping of famous people and elite institutions juxtaposed to the humble “little rock shop” on Coast Highway may be difficult to reconcile.

But spend a few minutes with Dona and you'll realize that even with 50 years of expertise, she has the enthusiasm of a beginner.

She laughs when describing a question she often gets out in the tumultuous world of mineral trading. When people hear she's from Laguna Beach before any introductions are made, they immediately ask, "Do you know Dona?"

The Leichts are renowned yet keep a low profile, providing a welcoming place to inspire beginners and the curious, as well as elite collectors.

Stop in to wish them a happy 50th year in business. But check their schedule, as soon they are off to exhibit at mineral shows on the East Coast and Denver. And you don't want to miss the chance to respond with "yes" if you're ever asked, "Do you know Dona?"