Meet Rolf Egberink
Stack of Stones is for all mineral and gemstone enthusiasts. Both beginners and more experienced collectors, professionals and organizations will find knowledge, skills and answers to pressing questions from me. I stand for ready-made and reliable advice you need that helps you to collect, “de-collect”, buy or sell gems and minerals with confidence and based on honest information.
My name is Rolf Egberink
Owner of Stack of Stones, author, educator and expert on minerals and gemstones. What once began with a fascination with collecting unusual stones has grown into a professional knowledge platform for anyone looking for reliable and well-researched information on gemstones, minerals, rocks and geology.
Want to know more about my background and the creation of Stack of Stones? In the first episode of my podcast (Dutch) I tell you about it in detail. You can also read that story, including photos, on this page.
Check out my LinkedIn profile for an overview of my professional career.
My motivation
I want to contribute to an honest, transparent and well-informed world of stones. Honesty, integrity and independence are my guiding principles. My goal is not only to impart knowledge, but more importantly to empower people themselves to make better choices. I teach you how to identify gemstones and minerals, how to assess authenticity, how to recognize fake or treated material – what I call “Scammite” – and to look critically at trade claims and misleading naming. Topics such as safety, responsible collecting and de-collecting, and correctly naming stones according to scientific findings are also important to me. You can find more on these topics in my Gem or Scam Library and several other articles on this website, as well as educational video’s and podcasts.
My approach
To achieve that, I collaborate with experts, researchers and vendors within the independent knowledge center of Stack of Stones. I share my knowledge through courses, lectures and workshops, blogs, videos, podcasts and the Gem or Scam library. I also actively build a community where enthusiasts and professionals meet, share knowledge and continue to learn together. My strength lies in translating complex information into understandable and accessible language tailored to different audiences. With more than twenty years of teaching experience and a background in higher education, I know how to inspire people and help them further. And I do this in a practical, factual way, with a keen eye for detail, a good dose of humor, common sense and flair.
