Buy GENUINE BLUE PARAIBA TOURMALINE Auction starts from $1

Boasting a colorful and romantic history, Tourmaline rivals all but the most unique gems as it is found in an incredible array of gorgeous colors. Coming in a palette of over 100 different hues, Tourmaline is one of the world’s most diverse gemstones. This has resulted in the nickname “the chameleon gem”, which is doubly appropriate when you consider that one major source of Tourmaline is Madagascar, home to more than half of the world’s chameleon species!

The name Tourmaline comes from the Sinhalese word “turmali”, meaning mixed, due to a historical tendency for it to be confused and then mixed with other gem varieties.



Sri Lanka (formerly Ceylon) was also partly responsible for Tourmaline’s first appearance in Europe when Tourmaline gems were sold to Dutch traders who imported them to the West in the 15th century.

The Dutch, aside from admiring Tourmaline for its beauty, first discovered that this gem like Quartz possessed a unique property. Tourmaline when heated or rubbed creates an electrical charge, becoming a magnet that attracts lightweight materials.

A monarch particularly enchanted by Tourmaline was the Empress Dowager Tz'u Hsi, the last Empress of China. She loved Tourmaline so much, and was so wealthy, that she bought almost a ton of it!

                              Buy GENUINE BLUE PARAIBA TOURMALINE Auction starts from $1

While Tourmalines occur in large crystal sizes, Tourmaline of sufficient beauty to be set into jewelry is not available in great abundance. Because of their size, crystals are usually cut into long rectangular shapes following the axis of the crystal.

Tourmaline crystals occur in granitic pegmatite veins occurring in the great gem mining districts of Minas Gerias in Brazil, and the east African countries of Kenya, Tanzania, Mozambique, Malawi and Madagascar.

In the summer of 1998 a new Tourmaline deposit was unearthed near the city of Ibadan in Nigeria, West Africa, proving to be one of the most significant Tourmaline discoveries in modern times.

Tourmaline is a group of mineral species. However, it’s the mineral Elbaite (named after the island of Elba near Italy’s west coast where it was discovered) that is responsible for almost all of Tourmaline’s most famous gem varieties. When used, the name “Elbaite” typically references Green Tourmaline, while the other color forms of Elbaite have their own specific color related names.

Tourmaline very occasionally displays the cat’s eye effect. Chatoyancy or the cat’s eye effect is a reflection effect that appears as a single bright band of light across the surface of a gemstone.

All Tourmalines can display pleochroism, meaning that its color changes when viewed at different angles. However, this can vary from specimen to specimen. In some, this effect is hardly noticeable, while in others it is strongly apparent. To bring out the best color, gemstone cutters must take this into account when faceting Tourmaline.

Bi Color Tourmaline

Mentioned in early 20th century gemological texts, it was not until 1970’s that Tourmaline lent its charm to jewelry. Treasured for the magnificent harmony of its two colors, Bi Color Tourmaline possesses a distinctive beauty created by chance.

Due to their complex chemical composition, Tourmaline occurs in infinitesimal color variations. Bi Colored Tourmaline occurs because of differences caused by environmental changes. At different times, various color-causing elements (iron, manganese, titanium, chromium and vanadium) were incorporated into the crystal, causing different color layers. Purposefully cut to showcase this feature, Bi Colored Tourmaline displays a gorgeous contrast between its colors, typically pink and green, in one gem.

Given the environmental changes endured by Bi Color Tourmaline, like many Tourmalines (Paraiba or Rubellite), inclusions are common. Far from being flaws, inclusions are also a fascinating hallmark of authenticity that records a gem’s natural relationship with the Earth.

Bi Color Tourmaline should not be confused with Watermelon Tourmaline. Watermelon Tourmaline is a crystal with the inner part showing pink surrounded by green. They are typically thinly sliced in section, like a loaf of bread and polished to show the “watermelon” effect.

Green Tourmaline

Typically inclusion free, Green Tourmaline offers gem consumers everything they want in an Emerald, but with more clarity.

Green Tourmaline has become very popular with collectors over recent years as they realize the true potential of this beautiful gem. Chrome Tourmaline is scarcer variety of Green Tourmaline that bears chromium, the midas element responsible for producing particularly striking colors in a variety of gemstones.

Indicolite Tourmaline (Neon Blue)

Ranging in color from bright to deep blue, Indicolite Tourmaline is very rare and high quality specimens are highly collectable.

Paraiba Tourmaline

Paraiba Tourmaline is typically a small gem that displays electric swimming pool blues, neon peacocks and sizzling turquoises. Initially discovered at Mina da Bathalha, Paraiba, Brazil, it possesses a unique brilliance that allows the gem to glow and shine even when there is little light.

Named after the location of its first discovery, Paraiba, Brazil, the most interesting thing about this gem is that its name is more than just a location. Most Tourmalines get their gorgeous colors from traces of iron, manganese, chromium and vanadium, but Paraiba Tourmaline owes its spectacular colors to small amounts of copper, an element not typically found in Tourmaline. Paraiba Tourmaline also often contains manganese. When combined, the interaction between copper and manganese adds to the beautiful and fascinating colors displayed.

Prior to 1989, Mina da Bathalha produced Tourmaline for almost 10 years but the crystals were too fractured or broken to be faceted. Heitor Dimas Barbos, the father of Paraiba Tourmaline, was convinced that better quality Tourmaline could be found. He started digging in abandoned mines near the village of Sao Jose da Batalha in early 1981. In autumn 1989 his persistence finally paid off when he discovered a tiny new vein of gem-quality crystals. By 1994 the relatively small mountain range had almost been leveled and exhausted in the hunt for Paraiba Tourmaline. Mining Brazilian Paraiba Tourmaline is laborious, unpredictable and erratic. Chipped by hand directly from host metamorphic rock (granitic pegmatite), the elusive narrow veins appear and disappear haphazardly, resulting in mines that resemble Swiss cheese, with a multitude of narrow shafts and interconnected tunnels up to 60 meters deep.

With the Brazilian deposit all but depleted, the race has been on to find these geological rarities elsewhere. Thankfully, Africa came to the rescue. The first new find was discovered in 2001 at the Edoukou Mine in Oyo, Nigeria, close to the border of Benin and more recently in Zambezia, Mozambique. African Paraiba is believed to exist due to the theory of continental drift. Roughly 200 million years ago the earth's continents were joined together to form one gigantic super-continent called Pangaea. Comparing the silhouettes of Africa and South America both fit like pieces in a jigsaw puzzle. This suggests they once belonged to a single landmass where similar geological conditions resulted in their formation. In contrast to the Brazilian deposit, African Paraiba Tourmaline is mined from alluvial deposits. Interestingly, the GAAJ (Gemological Association of All Japan) research laboratory (Japan’s leading authority on gemstones), recently determined that as African Paraiba cannot be distinguished from their Brazilian counterpart by standard gemological tests, it gets down only to color, copper and manganese.

While mostly small sizes are extracted (less than 10 points) Paraiba Tourmaline from Mozambique has an average size of 2 carats, which is absolutely amazing considering the norm. Like Emeralds, inclusions are common in Paraiba Tourmaline, making its color the main beauty determinant. However, when Paraiba Tourmaline displays clean clarities, its’ rarity and value increase exceptionally.

Its beautiful vivid colors have made Paraiba Tourmaline hugely popular within a short time. An uncommon color for the gem kingdom, Paraiba Tourmaline even enchants those accustomed to seeing a wide variety of gems. One of the world’s most desired gemstones, gem collectors the world over compete for new Paraiba Tourmaline. Paraiba Tourmaline is a gem whose impossible rarity is only surpassed by its unrivalled beauty - there is simply never enough to go around.

Rubellite Tourmaline

Rubellite’s sensuous mélange is the personification of seduction; no other colors display its comparable feminine flair. Whispering in passionate pinks and suggestive purples, Rubellite affords the perfect romance in an opulence of red. Once aware of the extravagance and beauty of this gemstone, a woman can not be parted from her Rubellite, a gem of seduction.

Rubellite, deriving its name from the Latin word “rubellus”, meaning “coming from red” is a lustrous, reddish pink and purple toned variety of Tourmaline.

In the 17th century, the Tsar of Russia commissioned many items of gemstone jewelry to be made for the Imperial Crown Court. However, recently what were originally thought to be Rubies, in reality have been discovered to be Rubellite.

Extremely rare, Rubellite has taken the jewelry world by storm in recent years following the discovery of deposits in Madagascar and Nigeria. Madagascan Rubellite heralds from mines located 42 km from the town of Betafo, in the Antananarivo province in Madagascar’s central highlands. Interestingly, this deposit produces some truly unique Rubellites whose color is close to that of famous Rubies.

With the exception of Ruby and Noble Red Spinel, Rubellite is the only other gemstone that occurs in such a rich, dark red color. Similarly to Emeralds, inclusions in Rubellite are common. The chemical elements that color Rubellite (manganese) actually cause a growing crystal to become internally flawed. The more the elements are present, the darker the red color, and the more imperfect the final crystal. It is therefore extremely rare to find richly colored Rubellite that is internally clean. Rubellites also tend to have more natural inclusions because they are formed near the center of the crystal pocket, and thus receive more stress and pressure during their formation. Regardless, Rubellite is a durable gemstone, well suit to everyday jewelry.