Professionally, I am an analytical chemist, currently working with XRF. For about 15 years I have been interested in collecting minerals. I believe my interest in minerals began even earlier during a 1986 trip to Banská Štiavnica with my father. He purchased a couple of very nice specimens for me there and inspired me right then. I always admired "gem matrix" minerals at the museums but found these inaccessible before I purchased my first specimen of the type- an Indian ruby on matrix at the Smithsonian gift shop. My parents could not understand why I picked much smaller ruby crystals on matrix for the same price. Now they think differently. Since then, I started collecting mainly "gem matrix" specimens, emphasising on aesthetics. In many cases I disagree with most of my fellow collectors who prefer size or quantity over quality. For me, size is not as important. Many collectors I know don't understand me in this. Some collect minerals because of their lustre and size. Some become obsessed with their scientific value. Some are so preoccupied with certain localities, that they ignore minerals coming from elsewhere. I don't. I just want to admire their beauty.