Tourmaline is the alternative birthstone of October, particularly pink tourmaline.
You can find this incredibly unique stone in almost any color, making it a prized stone in jewelry making throughout history. The name tourmaline comes from the Sinhalese term "turmali" which means "mixed colors." Tourmaline ranges from red to green and from blue to yellow, often with two or more colors in one stone called watermelon (Figure #1). Some tourmalines even change color depending on the light source.
According to Brazilian lore, Tourmalines were brought to earth by extraterrestrial beings of higher intelligence. This stone has been said to have many healing properties, including cell regeneration when there is a wound or scar tissue; even burns can be cured. This stone has even been said to make products, such as wrinkle cream or moisturizer more effective if it is left in the preparation. Rubelite (red variety) tourmalines hold special therapeutic qualities. They supposedly help increase awareness of your body and free you from impulsive behavior. Indicolite (blue) is believed to keep off lung diseases. Yellow tourmaline will serve as an aid when you are sad or depressed, while polychrome (multi-colored) stones will actually make you more extroverted and sociable.
Tourmaline was the preferred stone of Rene Lalique, master French jewelry designer and one of the finest and most important exponents of the Art Nouveau style in vogue around the turn of the century.
Now let's talk about specifics; different varieties and their prices. Prices of all tourmalines for the last four years have almost doubled due to increased demand from China and production cost in Brazil.
Verdilite (Figure #2): These are regular green tourmalines that are the most common and range $100-300 per carat.
Chrome tourmaline (Figure #3): These are a very vivid grass green color and range in price from $400-$700 per carat. Chrome tourmaline is very similar in color to emerald, and can be used as an alternative to emerald while still achieving a similar look.
Indicolite tourmaline (Figure #4): This variety is green with a bluish hue, and range from $400-$800 per carat.
There are also pink and red varieties of tourmaline.
Rubelite tourmaline (Figure #5): This variety has a very hot intense pink color that contain a lot of red. These are only called rubelite of it continues to display the same intense ruby red color as the light source changes. Those that change in different light sources are called pink tourmalines. Pink tourmalines (Figure #6) range from $150-$350 per carat, while rubelite ranges in price from $400-$800 per carat.
Paraiba tourmaline (Figure #7): This is a very special, unique and extremely rare stone. It is the most valuable, and comes in a very bright vivid sea blue (see picture). This fairly new stone was discovered in 1987 in a mine in the village Paraiba, of Brazil. Paraiba tourmalines from this area have since been depleted and cost anywhere from $20,000-$70,000 per carat making it not only the most valuable tourmaline, but one of the most valuable gems. There is a new source in Africa, specifically Mozambique, that come in lighter colors and range $3,000-$15,000 in price per carat depending on intensity of color and clarity. In 2002, Christie's Hong Kong sold a deep pure-blue 8.90 carat Paraiba tourmaline for $30,000 per carat ($270,100 total). Today, this stone would be worth significantly more.
Tourmaline rates a 7-7.5 on the Mohs scale, making it a very durable stone for everyday wear.
Today, primary sources for tourmaline are Brazil, various countries in Africa including Mozambique, Namibia, Tanzania, Madagascar and parts of Asia including Russia.
Pictured is a 5.1 carat certified Paraiba tourmaline with diamonds in platinum; designed by Alex Gulko in 2010.
By Viktoriya Gulko
You can find this incredibly unique stone in almost any color, making it a prized stone in jewelry making throughout history. The name tourmaline comes from the Sinhalese term "turmali" which means "mixed colors." Tourmaline ranges from red to green and from blue to yellow, often with two or more colors in one stone called watermelon (Figure #1). Some tourmalines even change color depending on the light source.
According to Brazilian lore, Tourmalines were brought to earth by extraterrestrial beings of higher intelligence. This stone has been said to have many healing properties, including cell regeneration when there is a wound or scar tissue; even burns can be cured. This stone has even been said to make products, such as wrinkle cream or moisturizer more effective if it is left in the preparation. Rubelite (red variety) tourmalines hold special therapeutic qualities. They supposedly help increase awareness of your body and free you from impulsive behavior. Indicolite (blue) is believed to keep off lung diseases. Yellow tourmaline will serve as an aid when you are sad or depressed, while polychrome (multi-colored) stones will actually make you more extroverted and sociable.
Tourmaline was the preferred stone of Rene Lalique, master French jewelry designer and one of the finest and most important exponents of the Art Nouveau style in vogue around the turn of the century.
Now let's talk about specifics; different varieties and their prices. Prices of all tourmalines for the last four years have almost doubled due to increased demand from China and production cost in Brazil.
Verdilite (Figure #2): These are regular green tourmalines that are the most common and range $100-300 per carat.
Chrome tourmaline (Figure #3): These are a very vivid grass green color and range in price from $400-$700 per carat. Chrome tourmaline is very similar in color to emerald, and can be used as an alternative to emerald while still achieving a similar look.
Indicolite tourmaline (Figure #4): This variety is green with a bluish hue, and range from $400-$800 per carat.
There are also pink and red varieties of tourmaline.
Rubelite tourmaline (Figure #5): This variety has a very hot intense pink color that contain a lot of red. These are only called rubelite of it continues to display the same intense ruby red color as the light source changes. Those that change in different light sources are called pink tourmalines. Pink tourmalines (Figure #6) range from $150-$350 per carat, while rubelite ranges in price from $400-$800 per carat.
Paraiba tourmaline (Figure #7): This is a very special, unique and extremely rare stone. It is the most valuable, and comes in a very bright vivid sea blue (see picture). This fairly new stone was discovered in 1987 in a mine in the village Paraiba, of Brazil. Paraiba tourmalines from this area have since been depleted and cost anywhere from $20,000-$70,000 per carat making it not only the most valuable tourmaline, but one of the most valuable gems. There is a new source in Africa, specifically Mozambique, that come in lighter colors and range $3,000-$15,000 in price per carat depending on intensity of color and clarity. In 2002, Christie's Hong Kong sold a deep pure-blue 8.90 carat Paraiba tourmaline for $30,000 per carat ($270,100 total). Today, this stone would be worth significantly more.
Tourmaline rates a 7-7.5 on the Mohs scale, making it a very durable stone for everyday wear.
Today, primary sources for tourmaline are Brazil, various countries in Africa including Mozambique, Namibia, Tanzania, Madagascar and parts of Asia including Russia.
Pictured is a 5.1 carat certified Paraiba tourmaline with diamonds in platinum; designed by Alex Gulko in 2010.
By Viktoriya Gulko
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