Our Instagram Live Shows are one of the main ways we release new mineral specimens at The Liminal Stone.

They’re exactly what they sound like: we go live on Instagram, show specimens individually on camera, talk through the locality, condition, features and anything else we think is interesting, and make each piece available to purchase while we’re live.

First Time Customers

Before we can confirm your first claim, we’ll need your email address and country on record. Your email address allows us to invoice you immediately after the show, while your location allows us to provide an accurate shipping quote.

You’re welcome to send these details by DM before the show, or we’ll ask you to send them through while we’re live. Either is completely fine.

Because we move very quickly from the end of a live show into invoicing, we can’t accept claims from new customers until we’ve confirmed that we have these details on record. Once you’ve purchased with us, you won’t need to do this again unless your details change.

Do I Need Instagram?

To watch and participate in the live show itself, you’ll need an Instagram account.

You can find us at @the_liminal_stone. When we’re live, Instagram will indicate that a live video is running from our profile, and you can join simply by opening it.

You don’t need to appear on camera or speak. Viewers watch the stream and communicate with us through the comment section.

If you don’t currently use Instagram, you’re still very welcome to follow our work through the website. Selected specimens may also be available for private purchase before a live show, so Instagram isn’t necessarily the only way to buy from us.

When Are the Live Shows?

We announce upcoming shows through Instagram and maintain a countdown on our website.

The specimens change from show to show. Some lives are built around a new locality or parcel, while others may include a mixture of new arrivals, personal collection releases and individual pieces we’ve acquired specifically because we think they’re interesting.

We usually share previews before the show so you can get an idea of what will be coming.

If something catches your attention in a preview, you’re welcome to ask us about it before the live.

How Do I Join?

At the scheduled time, open our Instagram profile and enter the live video by clicking on our profile picture.

You can come and go whenever you like. There’s no obligation to purchase anything, and plenty of people simply watch.

During the live, we’ll bring specimens onto the table one by one. We’ll show the piece in detail, discuss what it is and where it comes from, and give the price in Australian dollars, or AUD.

If you’d like another angle or want us to take a closer look at something while it’s still on the table, ask in the comments. We’re always happy to show more when time allows.

How Do I Claim a Specimen?

Each specimen shown during the live is given an item number and price. If you’d like to purchase it, leave a clear claim in the comments using that number.

For example:

CLAIM #76

As long as the item number is included and it’s completely clear that you’re claiming the specimen, the exact wording isn’t important.

The first valid claim visible in our Instagram feed gets the piece.

Instagram doesn’t always display comments to every viewer in exactly the same order, so your screen may show your comment first while ours shows somebody else immediately before it. For this reason, the order visible from our side of the live is always the final reference.

During the live, we’ll read claims and comments aloud as they appear to us, and verbally confirm who has successfully claimed each specimen. If we don’t read your claim aloud, we can’t see it, so please try commenting again. This also gives us a verbal record of the claim on the live replay if several people attempt to claim the same piece at once.

Once we’ve acknowledged your claim, the specimen is yours. All claims are final, so please only claim if you intend to complete the purchase. We do not accept swaps or put backs.

Can I Buy Something Before the Live?

Sometimes, yes.

Selected pieces can be preclaimed and purchased privately before a live show.

If you see a specimen in one of our previews and you’re seriously interested, send us a direct message. We can let you know whether it’s available for preclaim and, where possible, provide additional photographs, video or information.

Once we’ve acknowledged and confirmed a preclaim, we treat it in exactly the same way as a live show claim.

The piece will be marked as unavailable when the live begins and will be invoiced under the same terms as other show purchases.

Private sales are something we’re very happy to offer, particularly to collectors who are actively building a collection with us. Not every previewed piece will necessarily be available early, but there’s no harm in asking.

What If I’m Interested but Need More Information?

Ask us.

Minerals are three dimensional objects, and no photograph or video shows absolutely everything. During a live we can rotate a piece, show the back, move it under different lighting or look more closely at a feature you’re curious about.

You can also send us a DM before the show.

If you’re considering a significant purchase and need to understand condition, repairs, contacts or a particular feature before committing, we’d much rather you ask.

We try to describe specimens accurately and openly, including condition issues that we believe are relevant.

What Currency Are the Prices In?

All live show prices are quoted in Australian dollars (AUD) unless we specifically say otherwise.

We ship internationally, so overseas collectors are very welcome to participate.

Your bank or payment provider will handle currency conversion where required.

What Happens After the Show?

You don’t need to stop watching to pay for each specimen individually.

We keep a record of your claims during the show and consolidate them afterward.

Invoices are generally issued within 24 hours of the live. Payment is then due within 24 hours of receiving your invoice, unless we’ve arranged something different with you in advance.

Shipping is charged separately.

This means you can claim several specimens throughout the show and receive one invoice rather than making separate payments each time.

How Can I Pay?

We will issue an invoice with payment links to your designated e-mail address within a few hours of the show ending.

Square is our preferred invoicing platform.

Depending on your circumstances and location, other payment options may also be available on request, including Wise, PayPal Pay in 4 and Afterpay.

PayPal may be available by exception.

If you need a particular payment method, please ask us before claiming if your ability to complete the purchase depends on it.

Do You Offer Payment Plans?

Yes. We offer payment plans on qualifying purchases.

Our standard starting point is:

• Minimum purchase: $400 AUD
• Deposit: 25% within 24 hours
• Payments: weekly or fortnightly
• Term: determined by the total purchase amount

New customers are welcome to enquire about a plan.

We understand that circumstances can change during a payment plan. If something happens, please contact us as early as possible. We can usually be much more flexible when we know what’s happening.

Late fees are only applied where payments have fallen behind without communication.

If you’re considering a larger specimen and would need a payment plan to make it work, you’re welcome to speak to us before the show or before making a preclaim.

How Does Shipping Work?

Shipping is calculated separately from the specimen price because the cost varies considerably depending on the size of the order and its destination.

We ship worldwide with Australia Post. 

Once your invoice has been settled and the order is ready to send, we’ll pack the specimens carefully and arrange shipping.

If you’re purchasing several specimens or participating in more than one show close together, ask us about combining shipping where practical.

Can I Watch Without Buying?

Absolutely.

There’s no expectation that everybody watching will purchase something.

Live shows are also a chance to see unusual material properly, ask questions, learn about different localities and see how specimens compare side by side. Some collectors watch several shows before they ever make their first claim.

You’re very welcome to simply come along and see what turns up.

How Do I Make Sure I Don’t Miss a Show?

Instagram doesn’t necessarily show every live video or post to every follower automatically, so if you want to keep up with our shows, it helps to turn notifications on for our account.

From our Instagram profile, you can enable notifications for:

• posts
• stories
• live videos

Instagram’s menus do change from time to time, but these settings can generally be found through the notification or bell controls on our profile.

We also keep a countdown on The Liminal Stone website for upcoming live shows.

A Few Things That Make Live Shows Easier

If it’s your first time joining us, you really don’t need to prepare much.

Make sure you’re logged into Instagram before the show starts, have your sound on if you want to hear the specimen descriptions, and keep the comments open if you’re planning to claim.

If you think you may be purchasing, it also helps to send us a quick message beforehand with your e-mail address and country of location, so we can invoice you afterwards. If we do not have this information on hand, we will request it during the show before we confirm your claims.

And if you’re unsure about anything during the show, just ask. There are usually a mixture of long term collectors and people joining for the first time, and we don’t expect anybody to arrive already knowing how the format works.