For those with their hearts and minds set on finding inimitable bespoke décor, housewares and custom-commissioned gifts that are mind-blowingly exquisite need look no further than Opulent Luxuries. This artisanal crystal design house has raised the bar beyond the traditional work of Tiffany, Waterford and Baccarat courtesy of its custom-tailored “patent-pending” pieces made exclusively from the finest semi-precious gemstones extracted throughout the globe.

The company uses these scrupulously-sourced stones to hand-craft giftable wares like vases, candlesticks, bowls, glassware, lighting, coasters, landscape pieces, accolades and more—all designed by hand with perfect symmetry by some of the world’s most skilled craftsmen. Each resulting work exudes glamour, elegance and sophistication, from liquor glasses fashioned in Amethyst to candle sticks and vases crafted from Phantom Quartz and much in between.

Opulent Luxuries has the ability to yield virtually any design imaginable for the most discerning consumers, with many items available with personalized etching. This includes a number of engraved design options perfect for sports fans, such as the first ever baseball bat created from Phantom Quartz for the New York Yankees.

The company can even design the most striking natural clusters of rough gemstones that are perfectly suited for illuminated interior and exterior environments. The results are jaw-dropping notes of glam within the space, whether indoors or out. Place a cluster adjacent to a kinetic fire or water feature and the effect is nothing short of spectacular.

To uphold and guarantee the utmost quality standard, Opulent Luxuries employs a grading scale for its gems that’s synonymous with diamonds with respect to cut, color and clarity to ensure only top-quality stones are utilized. Only the gems that have a rating of A/A+ are chosen and then crafted by hand by the world’s most talented artisans through an incredibly painstaking process. All of the crystals utilized present their own signature of internal inclusions, fractures and crystal structures that took millions of years to form through a series of catastrophic geologic conditions— characteristics that serve a precious reminder of each stone’s provenance. It’s these distinctive properties that help ensure each and every piece is wholly one-of-a-kind.

The company was crystalized by Jeff Rutstein, the son of a geologist and geology professor at State University of New York at New Paltz. Rutstein spent decades traversing the globe with his father, and his father’s aspiring geology students, in search of the most beautiful, unimaginable gems hidden in deep, remote regions of the earth that had yet to be discovered. Then, after working with industry giants the likes of Tiffany and Waterford, coupled with a decade-long tenure in sports marketing, Rutstein had a vision to “elevate the game” and launch a suite of designs exemplifying the most high end, luxurious sports accolades ever created. Due to the impeccable craftsmanship and beauty of his works, Rutstein rapidly expanded from commissioning sports-specific pieces to a wide array of housewares, drinkware, décor and landscape items that are utterly unparalleled.

Photo Courtesy of Opulent Luxuries

Every single creation is customized for each client predicated on their desired gemstone, level of design sophistication and budget. Whether it’s a set of extravagant goblets, pair of Amethyst cathedrals framing a fireplace, illuminated clusters in an outdoor oasis or a football, basketball or baseball cut to perfect form for the ultimate sports enthusiast–the options are virtually endless. Perpetuating this variety is that the company offers an assortment of semi-precious gemstone choices to help ensure the work meets your exacting expectations, hopes and desires.

Crystal materials available include Phantom Quartz, deriving its name from the Greek mythological word “Krustallos,” meaning “Ice Created by the Gods.” They also work with soft pink Rose Quartz, regarded as the “heart stone” and commonly associated with “unconditional love and passion,” as well as Amethyst—a stone often referred to as “Purple Diamonds” due to its intense color tones and splendor.

I, myself, commissioned a Rose Quartz heart perched majestically (and seemingly impossibly) atop a Phantom Quartz base, also with a personalized inscription. The resulting sculpture took my breath away when I first saw it, as it does each and every time I gaze upon it to this day.

“It took several years for me to perfect our ‘patent pending’ etching process, which is an incredibly sophisticated and arduous procedure allowing the gemstone to be meticulously engraved to perfect symmetry,” Rutstein notes. “These designs can not only be etched with meaningful personalized text, but also with a favorite team logo. In fact, we have licensing agreements with all the major professional sports properties including MLB, NFL, NHL, NBA and NCAA.”

So magnificent are Opulent Luxuries creations, the company boasts a bevy of A-List clients like Gearys Beverly Hills, Phyllis Morris, MLB, ESPN, the NFL (including the Dallas Cowboys organization), Frongate and even famous movers-and-shakers in Hollywood.

So, if you want to add shock, awe and sparkle to your life, or some polish and panache to your gifting endeavors, Opulent Luxuries is a categorical go-to gem.

***Some or all of the accommodations(s), experience(s), item(s) and/or service(s) detailed above may have been provided at no cost and/or arranged to accommodate this review, but all opinions expressed are entirely those of Merilee Kern and have not been influenced in any way as per the disclosure policy on our “Legal” page***