About

Hello, I’m Dan, the owner of The Little Lapidary in Ventura, California.

What began as a fascination with rocks, minerals, and gemstones grew into a passion for lapidary work—the art of transforming rough stone into finished cabochons and specimens. Today, I spend my time cutting, shaping, polishing, and collecting stones from a variety of sources, always searching for material with unique color, pattern, and character.

Turquoise holds a special place in my collection. I am especially drawn to natural turquoise and enjoy sharing the story behind each stone whenever possible. Some material comes directly from miners and trusted suppliers, while other pieces come from collecting trips and mine visits throughout the western United States.

Every stone begins as rough material. Through cutting, shaping, sanding, and polishing, I work to reveal the beauty hidden inside. No two stones are exactly alike, which is part of what makes lapidary work so rewarding. Whether it’s a piece of turquoise, labradorite, chrysocolla, petrified wood, or another gemstone, each finished cabochon tells its own story.

At The Little Lapidary, I believe customers should know what they are buying. Whenever possible, I identify the source of the material and clearly disclose whether a stone is natural or stabilized. I also enjoy helping collectors, jewelry makers, and anyone curious about gemstones learn more about the materials they are purchasing.

Thank you for visiting. I hope you enjoy exploring the collection as much as I enjoy creating it.

— Dan Kitay
The Little Lapidary
Ventura, California