Tourmaline is a fascinating gemstone known for its variety of colors, versatility and unique properties. Whether you are a gemstone lover, a collector, or just looking for the perfect piece of jewelry, tourmaline offers a unique experience. This blog post will provide an in-depth guide to tourmaline, from its origins and types to its symbolism, uses, purchasing, and care tips, giving you a comprehensive understanding of tourmaline.
Table Of Contents:
- What is Tourmaline?
- Tourmaline Formation and Origin
- Types of Tourmaline
- Reasons Behind Tourmaline’s Color Diversity
- Tourmaline’s Hardness and Durability
- Metaphysical Symbolism of Tourmaline
- Tourmaline in Jewelry
- What to Consider Before Choosing Tourmaline Jewelry?
- The 4C’s of Tourmaline
- Tourmaline Care Tips
- How to Tell if Tourmaline Is Real or Fake?
- FAQs About Tourmaline
What is Tourmaline?
Tourmaline is a borosilicate mineral with piezoelectric and thermoelectric properties. The name “tourmaline” is derived from the Sinhalese word “turamali”, meaning “stone of mixed colors”, which complements its varied hues. Tourmaline is one of the few gemstones that can appear in nearly all colors, from pink and red to green, blue, and even black, earning it the title “rainbow gemstone”.
Fun Fact: Tourmaline is the gift of the rainbow – a legend from ancient Egypt, where it was believed that Tourmaline absorbed the colors of the rainbow as it traveled through it to reach the earth, giving it such a rich array of colors.
Tourmaline Formation and Origin
Like most gemstones, tourmaline forms deep within the earth’s crust – crystallizing boron, silicon, aluminum and other elements as magma cools.
Tourmaline is found in many parts of the world, with the best-known sources being Brazil, Afghanistan, Sri Lanka, Madagascar and parts of Africa, with Brazil being the largest producer of tourmaline.
Types of Tourmaline
As the “rainbow gemstone,” Tourmaline naturally exhibits a wide range of colors. Below are some of the most popular types:
Schorl Variety
Refers to black tourmaline, which is the most common color of tourmaline. Iron is the main component of Tourmaline that makes it black hue, hence the name Iron Tourmaline. Black tourmaline makes up 95% (or more) of all tourmalines. It is known for its protective properties and is often used in metaphysical practices for grounding and energy protection.
Rubellite Variety
Rubellite refers to the pink to red variety of Tourmaline, where the saturation of color is caused by the manganese in the crystals. One of the most common tourmaline colors is pink tourmaline, with true red being the rarest. This color of tourmaline is popular, especially in love jewelry, due to its association with love.
Verdelite Variety
Verdelite ranges in color from light to dark green, its green saturation is caused by chromium, Green is another one of the more common tourmaline color types.
Indicolite Variety
Refers to blue tourmaline, the color ranges from light turquoise to dark blue. The color of blue tourmaline is mainly caused by trace elements such as iron and copper. Different coloring element produce different hues of blue.
Parti/Bi-Color Tourmaline
Tourmaline has polychromatic, so you may see mixed or bi-colored effects on a single Tourmaline. One of the best known varieties is the watermelon tourmaline, which has a pink center and a green outer layer that resembles a slice of watermelon. It is highly prized for its sharp color contrasts.
Paraiba Tourmaline
Known as the “King of Tourmalines”, Paraiba Tourmaline is usually vivid neon blues and greens, and rarely neon purples. The blues and greens are caused by the presence of copper in the crystals, with higher levels of copper favoring the green color and lower levels of copper favoring the blue color. And when the element manganese is present, the manganese combines with the copper, sometimes forming a violet or purple hue. Brazil and Africa are the main sources of Paraiba Tourmaline, with Brazilian Paraiba Tourmaline known for its pure blue-green color and high saturation.
Reasons Behind Tourmaline’s Color Diversity
The main reason for the variety of tourmaline colors is the presence of trace elements, as well as the crystal structure, the effect of radiation and heat treatment.
- Trace Elements: The color of a tourmaline depends mainly on the trace elements it contains. Different elements give tourmaline its different colors. For example, iron gives tourmaline a black or brown color, manganese gives it a pink or red color, chromium gives it a green color, and so on.
- Crystal Structure: Tourmaline has a complex crystal structure. Different crystal structures have different effects on the absorption and reflection of light, thus affecting the color. For example, lattice aberrations or different impurity ions contained in the crystal can affect the absorption and reflection of light.
- Radiation: Some tourmalines are exposed to natural or artificial radiation during their formation, which can also affect their color. The principle is that radiation creates electron capture centers as well as hole centers, which create different color centers. These centers also absorb certain wavelengths of light, which affects the color of the tourmaline. The color centers created by radiation are not uniformly thermally stable, and heating can cause some of them to disappear, changing the color of the tourmaline.
- Environment: The environment in which a Tourmaline is grown can also affect its color and quality. For example, Tourmalines formed at high temperatures and pressures tend to be darker in color and more transparent. For this reason, many jewelers now use heat treatment to deepen the color of tourmalines.
Tourmaline’s Hardness and Durability
A gemstone’s hardness is measured on the Mohs scale, which ranks minerals by their relative scratch resistance on a scale of 1 to 10. The higher the number, the greater the hardness. Tourmaline has a Mohs scale hardness of 7 – 7.5, indicating good durability. This makes it a durable jewelry choice for everyday wear.
Tourmaline Metaphysical Symbolism
Tourmaline, a colorful gemstone, is not only pleasing to the eye, but is also imbued with profound meaning in the world of metaphysics. Considered a stone of energy that connects heaven and earth, it plays an important role in various cultures and traditions.
Convergence and energy flow: Tourmaline is considered an energy conductor, capable of converging cosmic energies and channeling them to all parts of the body. It facilitates the flow of energy and balances yin and yang, resulting in harmony between mind and body.
Emotional healing: Different colors of tourmaline correspond to different emotions:
- Pink Tourmaline soothes the soul and promotes love and nurturing.
- Red Tourmaline inspires enthusiasm and vitality, and boosts self-confidence.
- Blue Tourmaline brings serenity, wisdom, communication and expression.
- Black Tourmaline strengthens the roots and protects the energy field from negative energy or electromagnetic radiation.
- Green Tourmaline brings vitality, promotes growth and stimulates creativity.
- Purple Tourmaline promotes spiritual growth and enhances intuition.
By choosing a tourmaline to interact with that matches your energetic frequency, you can release negativity and heal spiritual wounds.
Spiritual Enhancement: Tourmaline is believed to promote spiritual growth and help people connect to higher levels of consciousness. It unlocks intuition, enhances insight and helps people discover their inner wisdom.
Protection and Ward Off Evil: In many cultures, Tourmaline is considered a talisman that wards off negative energies and protects the wearer from evil forces.
Tourmaline is also considered the birthstone of October, the 8th wedding anniversary stone, making it a popular gift for those born in October, celebrating the month of October, or the 8th wedding anniversary.
Tourmaline in Jewelry
Tourmaline’s variety of colors and good hardness make it suitable for a wide range of jewelry designs. In jewelry design, larger carats are often used in engagement rings, necklaces, brooches and crowns, in keeping with the luxurious design of this type of jewelry, which often uses larger stones, while maximizing the value of the Tourmaline itself (the greater the weight, the greater the value). Smaller carats of tourmaline can be used in wedding bands, bracelets and earrings to emphasize their small size and sophistication.
Why Choose Tourmaline Jewelry?
Tourmaline jewelry is ideal for those who enjoy the versatility and vibrancy of jewelry. Whether you are drawn to its physical beauty, metaphysical properties or the rarity of a particular color, tourmaline has something for everyone. It is a more affordable option than other colored gemstones, such as sapphires or emeralds, without compromising aesthetics.
What to Consider Before Choosing Tourmaline Jewelry?
When choosing tourmaline jewelry, you need to consider the 4C’s of tourmaline in addition to your personal preferences, budget, and other factors.
What are the 4C’s of Tourmaline? As with other gemstones, the 4C’s refer to the color, clarity, cut and carat weight of a gemstone and are a measure of its value.
The 4C’s of Tourmaline
Color
Color is the most important factor in the value of tourmaline. One of the most fascinating aspects of tourmaline is its wide range of colors. They range from deep black to bright yellow, from soft pink to rich purple, the purer and more saturated the color, the higher the value. Among the many color categories, neon color Paraíba tourmaline is the rarest and most valuable, followed by red Rubellite.
Clarity
The clarity of a Tourmaline is the degree of internal and surface imperfections. These imperfections are often referred to as inclusions and can be crystals, cracks, clouds of material, etc. Compared to diamonds, tourmalines are relatively forgiving in their clarity requirements, and some have even become characteristic of tourmalines. For example, the layered structure of watermelon tourmaline is an inclusion. In general, however, the fewer the imperfections and the greater the clarity, the higher the value. (Rubellite types tend to have more visible inclusions than Verdelite and Indicolite types).
Cut
Tourmaline is polychromatic (shows different colors when viewed from different angles) and the cut directly affects the luster and fire of the Tourmaline. A good cut will give the Tourmaline its best tone.
Carat Weight
Carat weight is the unit of measurement for the size of a gemstone. In general, the higher the carat weight, the higher the value. The most valuable Paraíba Tourmalines rarely exceed 2 carats, while others can generally be grown to larger carat weights.
Tourmaline Care Tips
Tourmaline is relatively easy to care for.
- It should be worn to avoid impact and prolonged exposure to the sun.
- When cleaning, avoid harsh chemicals or ultrasonic cleaners that can damage the stone. To clean tourmaline jewelry, simply use warm soapy water and a soft cloth.
- When storing, keep it away from other gemstones to avoid scratching. Store away from light. Some tourmalines are sensitive to bright light and prolonged exposure to bright light will cause the color to fade.
- Heat-treated and irradiated tourmalines require special care – these tourmalines are sensitive to high temperatures and bright light. Avoid high temperatures (high temperatures can diminish the color of the tourmaline) and drastic temperature changes (drastic temperature changes can cause the tourmaline to crack).
FAQs on Tourmaline Care
Yes, washing in warm soapy water is a common way to care for tourmalines. However, it is important to avoid soaking tourmaline in water for extended periods to prevent moisture from seeping in.
It is not recommended. The vibrations of the ultrasonic waves can damage the tourmaline.
Not recommended. Chlorine and other chemicals in swimming pools can damage tourmaline.
How to Tell if Tourmaline Is Real or Fake?
People love tourmaline for its rich colors and unique properties, but many imitations exist on the market. To avoid buying fakes, we can identify them in the following aspects:
1. Observe Color and Luster
Natural tourmaline exhibits pleochroism, meaning that its color changes when viewed from different angles and its luster varies accordingly. In contrast, imitations tend to be uniform in color and dull in luster.
2. Touch Feeling
Natural tourmaline feels cool and smooth to the touch. Imitations may feel rough or have a plastic-like sensation.
3. Observe the internal structure
Under magnification, natural tourmaline is often characterized by inclusions and other natural growth features, while textiles are relatively clean.
4. Test the hardness
Tourmaline is relatively hard. You can lightly scratch glass with tourmaline, and if it leaves a mark, it is likely genuine. However, be careful not to apply too much force, as this may damage the gemstone.
5. Thermoelectricity
Tourmaline has thermoelectricity, after rubbing tourmaline, it will adsorb some light objects, such as confetti, dust and so on.
6. Professional Identification
The best way to purchase a genuine tourmaline is from a certified jeweler. If you have any doubts about the authenticity of your tourmaline, you can have it professionally tested at a gemological laboratory.
Tips: Identifying real or fake tourmaline requires some expertise and experience. If you’re unsure of your ability to tell the difference, it’s best to consult a professional gemologist.
Common imitations of tourmaline
- Glass: Glass imitations have uniform color, lack inclusions, and have poor luster.
- Dyed Quartz: Dyed quartz is overly vibrant and lacks the natural gradient seen in real tourmaline.
- Plastic: Plastic imitations are lighter, less hard, and easily scratched.
Note: Although lab tourmaline also has almost no internal flaws, it is real tourmaline and not an imitation. It differs from natural tourmaline only in the environment in which it was formed – natural tourmaline is formed in the earth’s crust, while lab tourmaline is cultivated in a lab. Both have the same chemical, physical and optical characteristics.
FAQs About Tourmaline
Tourmaline discoloration can be reversible or irreversible and is a complex issue, depending on various factors. It is usually the result of exposure to high temperatures. You can try storing it in a cool place for a while and then observe if the color returns to normal. If it doesn’t, it’s recommended to consult a professional gemologist for the most accurate diagnosis and treatment advice.
Yes, Paraiba tourmaline is very expensive. Its high price is mainly due to its scarcity, unique neon color, difficulty in mining and strong market demand.
Typically, Paraiba tourmaline is more expensive than Rubellite. Due to its scarcity and unique color, Paraiba tourmaline tends to be far more expensive than other types of tourmaline, including Rubellite, which is also a valuable variety of tourmaline but is relatively stable due to its relatively large production.
Tourmaline is perfect for engagement rings. Tourmaline comes in various colors to suit different people’s preferences and is durable for everyday engagement ring wear.
Neon color is the most common characteristic of Paraiba Tourmaline. The neon color is essentially a fluorescent effect that causes Paraiba tourmaline to glow in bright light. Other blue tourmalines do not have this neon effect.
Heat-treated tourmalines, optimized for color, may fade over time.
Blue, green, and purple Paraiba tourmalines exist, with blue being the most common and purple the rarest.
Absolutely! With a hardness of 7-7.5, tourmaline is durable enough for everyday wear.
Final Thoughts
Rich in color, durability, and symbolism, tourmaline is a popular gemstone for casual jewelry wearers and serious collectors. Whether you use it in an engagement ring, necklace, bracelet, amulet, or other accessory, colorful tourmaline blends perfectly into every design.
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