Cal Graeber grew up in southern California near the gem pegmatites which led him to be interested in geology as a profession. He earned a BS in Geological Engineering at the Colorado School of Mines and collected frequently in Colorado and the Southwest.

His first job was with mining company in Canada for several years, but he couldn’t kick his love of specimens and joined Pala Properties International as their specimen specialist. There he learned the business, met major collectors and travelled to mines in many countries. Cal built a fine collection of California specimens in the process.