The museum would declare that hundreds of items from its collection had gone missing, been stolen, or had been damaged more than two years later. It had at last accepted Dr. Gradel’s words, but why had it taken so long to do so?
The initial hint.
From his attic study, which is filled with display cases filled with treasures, Dr. Gradel explains, “The gems that fascinate me are nothing so boring as diamonds.”
He gathers antique gemstones that have been intricately carved with images or themes; these stones were frequently worn as jewelry and help depict life in the classical world.
The passion is specialized. Due to the limited number of merchants, the internet has emerged as an essential trading tool, with eBay being a particularly good place to find deals.
