A ”ten”. For some of us of a prior generation, images of an iconic 80’s movie come to mind. Today a viral TikTok video or an NFT might very well be considered a ”ten”. The phrase ”that’s a ten” became integral to our cultural vernacular. As human beings, we need to quantify and validate our personal aesthetic choices; hence the term ”10” has come into being. When categorizing legendary accomplishments, we use the term G.O.A.T. (Greatest of All Time). Lebron James, Vincent Van Gogh, and the 2016 U.S. Women’s Soccer Team epitomize this concept quite well. In the physical realm, we tend to use the terms iconic, unprecedented, priceless, and legendary to affirm the object’s importance in popular culture. In the subjective world of fine minerals, a select few specimens reach the lofty status of ”10s”. The simple fact is that certain mineral specimens are so dramatic, aesthetic, or scientifically superior that most advanced collectors would be proud to own the piece or even have the opportunity to visually or physically evaluate the natural wonder. 

Da Vinci’s Mona Lisa, an absolute classic, would be considered an 11. Why? The average viewer knows an “11” when they see it. More specifically, it captures your brain, heart, and soul. You realize that all the 10s you’ve ever seen fall short in the face of the etherealness emanating from this work. It remains forever etched in your mind as an item that reaches the sublime. 

Thus, we must also acknowledge our greatest artist of all, the earth itself, when it comes to its natural mineralogical creations, and so we have found a few different types of 11s in this realm. It is critically essential to attribute specific criteria relative to the designation of an “11”. Scroll down to experience many of the world’s natural masterpieces.