Royal Lavulite is an actual jewel. Also known as Suglite and Royal Azel, this deep purple-to-gray/lavender colored gemstone is very rare and valuable. It's found in Japan, India, and South Africa, where the largest deposits are located.
Although this episode is first in time and shows how Steele and Holt met, the first episode filmed was Tempered Steele. The creator Robert Butler said on a DVD commentary that the network wanted to see a "sixth episode" to see if the concept worked as a series.
The Hunter Jet Star 6000 is actually the Vector W2, manufactured by Vector Aeromotive as a concept car in 1978. It went into limited production in the early 80's but the company ceased production on all its car models in the mid-90's, eerily paralleling its fictional counterpart's woes.
The exteriors of the Remington Steele Investigations office building are the Century Plaza Towers, 2000 Avenue of the Stars in Century City. They are a well-known and often used L.A. landmark.
Movie Reference: "Years from now when you talk of this, and you will, be kind" Deborah Kerr to John Kerr, Tea and Sympathy, MGM, 1956