Tourmaline
A rainbow jewel that falls into the human world
📜 History and Stories
Tourmaline's English name, Tourmaline, is derived from the Sinhalese word "turmali", meaning "mixed-color gemstone", which perfectly describes its versatility in color. In China, tourmaline was favored by the Qing court for its harmonic sound "warding off evil spirits".
One of the most famous lovers of tourmaline was the Empress Dowager Cixi. It is recorded that she had a penchant for pink tourmaline, which she purchased in large quantities, and in her tomb there is a pillow carved from a whole piece of watermelon tourmaline, which is worth a fortune.
🌍 Major Origin Distribution
Tourmaline is produced in a wide variety of regions around the world. Brazil is the largest and most important producer of tourmaline, producing almost every color of tourmaline, including the most precious Paraiba tourmaline. Other important sources include Nigeria, Afghanistan, Pakistan, the United States, and many countries in Africa.
📍 Discover the Premier Producer: Paraiba, Brazil🔬 Gemological Properties
| characterization | descriptive |
|---|---|
| Chemical composition | Extremely Complex Borosilicate Minerals |
| crystal system | tripartite crystal system |
| Mohs hardness | 7 - 7.5 |
| index of refraction | 1.624 - 1.644 |
| Key Features | Piezoelectricity and thermoelectricity |
Tourmaline vs.
⚡ Unique thermoelectric effect
Tourmaline is the famous "Tourmaline". When heated or pressurized, the two ends of its crystals generate a different electrical charge, which attracts dust or confetti from the surrounding area. This property, although not obvious in everyday wear, is a unique physical proof of its uniqueness.
🔥
Heating/Friction
⚡
Generation of electric charge
📜
Absorb dust/debris
💰 Different quality grades and values
The value of tourmaline is determined by its color and rarity. Although tourmaline comes in many colors, only a few varieties reach the top of the gemstone scale.
1. Color
The most important factor. The neon blue-green color of Paraiba and the ruby color of tourmaline are the most valuable.
2. Clarity
Different colors have different standards of cleanliness. Blues and greens are usually cleaner, while reds and pinks often have inclusions.
3. Cut
A good cut needs to take into account its dichroic nature in order to bring out the most beautiful colors.
4. Carat
High-quality, large-carat tourmaline is very rare, especially Paraiba and red tourmaline.
Different Colors of the Value Ladder
Tourmaline has an extremely wide value spectrum. While ordinary black tourmaline is affordable, top quality Paraiba tourmaline can rival or even exceed the price of a fine diamond per carat.
💖 Symbolism
🗓️
October birthstone
Sharing the honor of being the October birthstone with the opal, it symbolizes hope and creativity.
💝
8th Wedding Anniversary Stone
Representing happiness and positive energy, it is the ideal stone to celebrate your 8th wedding anniversary.
🌈
Creativity and Inspiration
Known as the "Stone of the Muses", it is said to inspire artists and writers.
🛡️ Care and Wear
Tourmaline has a hardness of 7-7.5 and is suitable for daily wear, but may require more frequent cleaning due to its thermoelectric effect.
✅
Suitable for daily wear
Good hardness, not easy to scratch.
🧼
Diligent Cleaning
Easy to absorb dust, need to be wiped frequently.
💥
Avoid hard contact.
Avoid storing with harder stones.
🌡️
Avoiding Temperature Differences
Rapid temperature changes may damage the gemstone.
👑 celebrities and collections
In addition to the historical Empress Dowager Cixi, many modern jewelry brands such as Tiffany & Co. and Harry Winston have favored the finest tourmalines, especially Paraiba tourmaline, which has become a favorite among jewelry collectors and celebrities, and whose neon brilliance stands out on the red carpet.