Bill Larson, the Collector’s owner, travels the world in search of fine gems and minerals.

Bill Larson, a native of San Diego County, is President and CEO of Pala International and The Collector Fine Jewelry. A renowned gemstone mining expert, Larson has a stunning private mineral collection as well as some of the rarest mineral-related books. He has supplied many of the most respected museums with some of the finest mineral specimens in the world.
     Larson began rock hunting and collecting minerals at a very young age. Being raised in Fallbrook, he collected materials from the gem mine dumps of Pala. At the age of 10, Larson was helping well-known mineral collector Josie Scripps gather local gem specimens and was known as one of her monsters. Graduating with honors from the Colorado School of Mines in 1967, he put his education into use and became involved in mineral and gemstone mining in Southern California and soon began Pala International in 1968.
    A world traveler, Larson frequents the remote ruby and sapphire mines of Burma, the fascinating mining areas of Russia and many other exciting localities of the world. He has traveled to Mogok more than 20 times. One never knows what odd and amazing things Burma Bill will bring back from his travels.

Bill Larson in his element, chasing fine gems in Burma’s Mogok Stone Tract.

Pala International’s Wimon Manorotkul holds “Big Mama.” This extraordinary 10,000-ct. Mogok (Burma) ruby crystal is among the finest specimens ever unearthed and was brought back alive by Bill Larson. Photo: R.W. Hughes/Pala International

Further reading

• Meet The Larsons: Globe-Trotting Collectors
• About The Collector