The Solaria Collections
The Solaria Collection brings together selected mineral specimens from Aotearoa New Zealand and across the world, curated for display, study, and appreciation. It includes raw specimens, carved forms, microminerals, and larger feature pieces chosen for their geological integrity, beauty, and educational value. This collection continues to evolve as Solaria grows, guided by ethical sourcing and a commitment to mineral literacy.
General Collection 1
COMING SOON
By Clyde Nicholson (NZ)
These specimens were kindly gifted to Solaria by Clyde Nicholson in 2026. After retiring from farming in the North Island of New Zealand, Clyde and his family moved to the Tasman region, where he shifted his focus from hunting animals to hunting another kind of treasure — rocks and minerals. An avid collector for over 35 years, Clyde has developed a high degree of lapidary skill alongside a museum-quality private collection, which he has displayed and catalogued with care and precision. We feel extremely blessed to have received just a few samples from his collection for Solaria.
Here is a small selection:
By Chris Fraser (NZ)
These specimens were gifted to Solaria by Chris Fraser in 2025. Chris is a New Zealand-based author and expert known for writing guidebooks on collecting, identifying, and finding minerals within New Zealand. His published work includes the book Collecting New Zealand Minerals, which serves as a guide for amateur fossickers and rockhounds.
By Alice Watson (NZ)
Alice Watson is an avid rockhound from Canterbury, NZ. Her passion is in collecting minerals in the field as well as cutting and polishing them and sharing them with others. Through her involvement with the Canterbury Rock and Mineral Club she has been able to source a wide variety of mineral specimens from other collectors from recent and historic finds — some of which are now with Solaria in the Watson Collection.
"Rockhounding in Canterbury has become a real passion of mine, with its wide riverbeds, rugged foothills, and constant promise of hidden treasures. I’m especially drawn to New Zealand thunder egg agates — the thrill of cracking one open never gets old, not knowing whether you’ll find subtle bands, quartz crystals, or something completely unexpected inside. Each piece feels like a small geological secret, shaped over millions of years and finally revealed by hand, and that sense of discovery is what keeps me coming back.
Some of the stones I source are from very special places you can no longer access, making them even more treasured, thanks to people such as Robin Hall, the late Malcolm Luxton, both from Ashburton, Canterbury.
We are lucky to have such a stunning variety of beautiful stones here in New Zealand." - Alice
Here is a small selection from the Watson Collection:
General Collection 2
COMING SOON