TOURMALINE: the guide to know everything about this precious stone

What is tourmaline? What is the origin of tourmaline? What are the particularities of tourmaline? What are the colors of tourmaline? What is the meaning of tourmaline?

Tourmaline is a mineralogical family which brings together gems of identical chemical composition such as indicolite, rubellite or even Paraíba tourmaline. Tourmaline represents the entire color palette.

History of tourmaline

The conquistadors introduced tourmaline to Europe in the 16th century. Tourmaline was first confused with other minerals (emerald for green tourmaline or colored zircons), gemmology only appearing late. It was not until the 19th century that tourmaline was identified as such.

Particularities of tourmaline

Tourmaline is a family of stones that brings together gems with a certain complexity but having the same chemical composition. Tourmaline can thus take on almost any color, even if the most common is green-yellow or yellow-green. While all color shades do indeed exist for tourmaline, some are much rarer than others and therefore also much more expensive.

Concerning inclusions, like all natural stones, tourmaline may contain them. If in certain colors, these inclusions are accepted, for other colors, we prefer an almost pure stone.

What are the colors of tourmaline?

Depending on the color of the tourmaline, a particular name may exist.

Indicolite or indigolite:

This tourmaline is blue or blue-green in color. This is due to the presence of lithium. Thus, all tourmalines with this nuance belong to this designation. Favorite colors are bright to intense, without gray.

Indicolites mainly come from Brazil, Afghanistan, Nigeria, Russia, Madagascar and Namibia.

Rubellitis:

Rubellite is one of the most popular and sought after tourmalines. This purple-pink colored tourmaline is more concentrated in manganese than pink tourmaline. It has a superb shine, particularly due to its copper content. It is not uncommon to confuse it with the ruby, which is also the origin of its name. Red spinel is also very close.

Rubellites are mined in Myanmar (formerly Burma), Brazil, Mozambique, Afghanistan, Madagascar, Kenya and the United States.

Paraíba tourmaline:

Paraíba tourmaline is famous for its inimitable neon blue to green color. This type of tourmaline is quite recent since it was discovered in the 1980s in Brazil, in the Paraíba region, hence its name. This unique color is due to the presence of manganese and copper. There are blue-green colored indicolites, but they do not reach this level of blue.

Mint tourmaline:

This variety of tourmaline is very appreciated and sought after because of its color. This mint color brings something very fresh and current which is very popular.

The most beautiful are extracted from Mozambican and Afghan mines.

Pink tourmaline:

Pink tourmaline owes its vibrant color to its lithium content. Its color range varies from pale pink to deep pink, bordering on rubellite.

These very special gems come from Brazil, Madagascar and Africa (Malawi, Kenya, Tanzania, etc.).

Tourmaline: the birthstone of October

Along with opal, tourmaline is the birthstone of October's children. This gem is also the symbol of 52 years of marriage. It is considered the stone of creativity and the heart. The motif she offers is captivating, even magical. Tourmaline has an exceptional shine that will enhance you both on a solitaire and on a creation .

Origin: where do tourmalines come from?

Brazil is the world's largest producer of tourmaline. It is first of all in the Paraíba region that we find this characteristic blue-green tourmaline. However, this gem is mined in many countries like Afghanistan, Australia, Burma, India, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Tanzania, Zambia.

Have you been seduced by tourmaline?

So don't hesitate any longer and make an appointment at the showroom to discover our tourmaline rings . Also note that all of our creations are available in tourmaline.