That’s how Esteban came into the Sunwest family. He cooked dinner for a small group at my home - a favor through a mutual friend who knew his culinary background.
That night, I didn’t just see someone who could handle heat in the kitchen. I saw someone who was ready and prepared for whatever walked through the door. A few weeks later, he was working in our vault.
Since then, Esteban has become one of the most dependable and quietly influential forces in our operation. Around here, he is often referred to as “the Grader Good” - but the truth is, that title doesn’t do him justice. He’s our master multitasker, the keeper of the vault, the eyes behind the grading table, the hands that sort and prep international shipments, and the spirit who brings harmony (and a good playlist) to our chaos. He’s also an artist, a tinsmith of local renown, and someone who connects with the stone in a way that most people never will.
At Sunwest, we deal in quality. It’s not just a word for us - it’s a standard we hold as a guiding light. In this world, quality starts with the rock.
Esteban has a gift for selecting and grading turquoise. He can sit with a bag of Lone Mountain, or Sonoran Gold, or Carico and see its future - not just what it is, but what it is destined to become.
His artistic eye sorts color and matrix, form and flow, tone and texture with meditative precision. He calls it going into “Zen mode.” I call it talent born from passion and trust.
When we send out rough to be processed for cutting and cabbing, Esteban’s hands weigh and pack each bucket - always within a few ounces of the shipping limit. When the cut stones return, he grades them piece by piece, making sure every one meets our standards. He knows that only about 30% comes back as cabochons, flats, or pieces ready for inlay . The rest becomes chip strand or dust. That’s how much waste we’re willing to accept - because if it’s not clearly the highest quality, then it’s not going to get the Sunwest stamp of approval.
But beyond the process, Esteban brings something deeper: heart.
He’s the kind of man who answers every request with “Whatever you need, I’m here.” He’s not in it for a title - he doesn’t even really have one. I learned a long time ago that it’s not the title that counts, it’s the character.
What makes it all sing is that he cares. About the stones. About the company. About me. I don’t take that lightly.
There’s something sacred about what we do here - something Esteban embodies. Turquoise isn’t just a product. It’s a story, a spirit, a living thread that connects generations, cultures, and traditions - and it takes people who honor that to keep it alive. People like Esteban - who see more than just the color in a stone. They see the soul.
And that’s the kind of quality you can’t train, buy, or fake.
That’s Sunwest.