Collector, Researcher and Advocate for Transparency in the Mineral Trade: Ricky Mowatt

The mineral world is full of collectors, dealers and enthusiasts. Few, however, have built a reputation around asking difficult questions.

Based in Kent, England, Ricky Mowatt is a mineral collector, field collector, researcher and co-owner of Carpè Crystals, a business that has supplied tens of thousands of mineral specimens to collectors around the world. While his interests span a broad range of mineralogy, he has become particularly well known for his work surrounding specimen provenance, transparency within the crystal trade, and the investigation of questionable claims frequently encountered within the modern mineral marketplace.

Unlike many collectors who focus solely on acquiring specimens, Ricky's approach centres on documenting them. He is a strong advocate for preserving historical labels, ownership records and collection histories, believing that provenance forms an essential part of a specimen's value and significance. His own collection includes specimens with documented histories stretching back generations, including important British fluorites from classic localities such as Middlehope and Weardale.

Outside of collecting, Ricky has become known for conducting independent investigations into controversial mineral claims. These projects have included laboratory testing of so-called "lithium quartz," investigations into fluorescence claims in Brazilian amethyst, examinations of treated and enhanced agates, and wider discussions regarding authenticity, disclosure and consumer education within the mineral trade.

His work often bridges the gap between traditional mineral collecting and the rapidly growing social media crystal market. Through educational content, field collecting expeditions and public discussions, he has encouraged collectors to look beyond aesthetics and consider locality data, geological context, provenance and scientific evidence.

Field collecting remains a major part of his mineralogical interests. He regularly organises and leads collecting expeditions both within the United Kingdom and internationally, most notably in Morocco, where participants have the opportunity to collect fluorite, vanadinite, cerussite, fossils and other classic specimens directly from source localities. These trips place a strong emphasis on education, responsible collecting and understanding the geological setting of the specimens being recovered.

In recent years, Ricky has also become an outspoken advocate for greater transparency within the mineral trade. Topics such as specimen treatment, locality misrepresentation, ethical sourcing claims and the preservation of collecting history have become recurring themes throughout his work.

At the core of these activities is a simple belief: mineral specimens are more than objects. They are pieces of geological and human history. Whether documenting a specimen's journey through historic collections, investigating claims using laboratory analysis, or introducing new collectors to the importance of locality information, Ricky's focus remains the same — preserving knowledge and encouraging a more informed approach to mineral collecting.

Today, Ricky continues to collect, research, document and share mineralogical knowledge with a growing audience of collectors worldwide, while working to ensure that the stories behind specimens are not lost to future generations