About Me

I had been a huge fan of Shungite for years. Fascinated with the oscillation of crystals, I bought a Shungite stone and was amazed by its palpable energy. I charged my water with it and could instantly taste a difference. I touched it to different energy points and felt a kind of “corkscrew” unwinding. I started buying more—bathtub, pendant, my cat’s water dish, plant waterer—Shungite everywhere.

Until it wasn’t. Some pieces were… just rocks. I dug into how to test real Shungite and learned it’s uniquely conductive—like copper wire. I tested my collection. A third were fake. I Googled “fake shungite” and found angry stories from people burned by counterfeits. One sleepy evening in February 2020, I playfully made a website called “VerifiedShungite.com,” tossed up a photo, connected a merchant account, and left the default text: “Your product description here.” I forgot about it—until April 9, when Cynthia F. bought a rock. I didn’t even have inventory, so I shipped one of mine. It felt like a nudge to go deeper.

Sampling from different sources—including the most ridiculous vendor for knock-offs (Amazon—those listings are something else)—I kept testing and learning.

Through a trusted connection I found a reliable source of raw, genuine Shungite. To honor people burned by fakes, I hand-test every product. Many of our elite pieces are photographed and videoed individually—because part of the joy of a crystal shop is choosing your exact stone.

All jewelry is hand-assembled by my wife in our Santa Monica studio. After each stone is tested, she carefully sets and finishes every pendant, bracelet, and wearable piece by hand. It’s a small, focused process—human attention on every item.

This site is a passion project. I photograph the rocks so you can buy the exact one you see. Our kids help make boxes and apply labels. It’s a family thing.

I don’t always know how fast shipments will arrive (you’ve probably noticed the sell-outs). Each item takes me 10–15 minutes to photograph, process, and test, and I’m personally shipping each box. I’ve started a few multi-million-dollar companies, but nothing beats talking with first customers and sending out those early orders.

That’s why we offer a simple promise: if you’re not happy, we’re not happy. We back everything with a 45-day return policy.

Thank you for trusting me—and for telling friends and family about “Verified Shungite.”

— Gary

p.s. Here’s my desk right now: