The Colors of Tourmaline

Tourmaline is a mineral gemstone available in almost any color you could imagine. More importantly, tourmaline is one of the rare minerals whose crystals could be bi-colored or even multi-colored.

Legend has it, that tourmaline on its journey from the earth’s core to the surface, it went through the rainbow and gathered all the rainbow’s colors. And even nowadays tourmaline is known as the rainbow gemstone.

In reality, tourmaline, like all other gemstones, owes its variety of colors to the numerous chemicals elements that are part of the gemstone’s composition. Unlike other gemstones, tourmaline has different names for the various species and varieties.

Tourmaline Colors and names

• Rubellite is the red or pinkish-red colored tourmaline. For decades, rubellite was confused with ruby, until the advance of Gemology allowed us to tell the two apart. Discover our rubellite jewellery.

• Verdelite is the green-colored tourmaline. Depending on its cut, it closely resembles the emerald gemstone.

• Achroite is the colorless or white tourmaline, which is extremely rare.

• Dravite is the dark yellow tourmaline, whose color may range between light green and brown.

• Schorlite is the black variety of tourmaline.

• Paraiba is the neon blue, green or greenish blue tourmaline. It’s one of the rarest and most expensive varieties of tourmaline and it is mostly found in Paraiba mines in Brazil. Deposits of Paraiba tourmaline have been discovered in African countries, but the Brazilian variety is still more expensive. A cut Paraiba tourmaline could reach a price of $40.000 per carat.

• Watermelon tourmaline is the variety that has red hues on the center surrounded by green color.

Tourmaline was originally discovered in nowadays Sri Lanka and for centuries it was only known there and in neighboring India. In 1703 the Dutch discovered Tourmaline and brought it in Europe. Now, Tourmaline is mined all over the world, from Madagascar, the USA, Australia, New Zealand to Russia, Indonesia, and China. However, not all tourmaline species and varieties are found in every country.

Lately, tourmaline has become one of the most popular gemstones in jewellery making. Tourmaline’s hardness as a mineral (7-7.5 in the Mosh scale) and the variety of its colors allow jewellery designers to create beautiful jewels with spectacular colors, jewellery that could be worn throughout the day without fear of damage to the gemstone.

 Tourmaline is October’s birthstone and the perfect gift for the 8^th anniversary. Explore our tourmaline jewellery collection and find the perfect gift for every occasion.