Karla Brom Proud
(excerpt from Autobiographical Narrative, March 2006)


"My lifelong passion for gems, minerals and mining began in Southern California in the 1950's. My Grandfather had reinvented himself as a gold miner in the Grass Valley area of California during the depression era and shared his interests with me from the time I was about 6 years old. We would go to old abandoned gem and gold mines in Southern California and poke around and find treasure. From early on I had a growing display and collection of mineral and gem crystals….all neatly labeled and displayed. What started as a family hobby continued on to become my life's work. My family has told me that at about age 8, I said that when I grew up, I would own my own rock and gem store. In 1970, my grown up wish became a reality when The Collector opened in Fallbrook, California. After 35 years and 6 stores….the passion is still with me."

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