Tourmalines are one of the most impressive gems that considered as a special. The countless colors gives you the option to pick a color that complements your skin tone and enables you to own a durable and brilliant gem. Tourmaline is one of the rare gemstones that come in all colors of the rainbow. In fact, its name the name Tourmaline comes from the Sinhalese (Sri Lanka) word ‘tura mali’ which translates as the stone of mixed colors.
Tourmaline is available in a wide variety of colors from black to bluish-black, dark brown, yellow, medium brown, blue to neon blue, lime to dark forest green, red and reddish purple, yellow, pink, and colorless. Bi-colored and multicolored tourmaline may be green at one end and pink at the other, watermelon tourmaline is green on the outside and pink on the inside.
The value of Tourmaline has a very large range. The more common forms can be fairly inexpensive, but the rarer and more exotic colors can be very costly.
Tourmaline as Fascinating Gemstone
Because of its multicolor nature, the tourmaline is one of the rare semi-precious gemstones that easily generate a genuine vibration of happiness and lightness of being. Color being one of the strongest expression of energy, main quality is represented by the specific color of your tourmaline. Yellow for self-esteem, Blue for serenity, Green for health, Black Tourmaline have a protective nature to them, Pink Tourmaline has the power to open and heal the heart, etc. The watermelon tourmaline is the best example of this rainbow of positive emotions that can easily clear and lighten your own energy field.
All colored Tourmaline gems changes color when viewed at different angles. In some Tourmaline gems, this effect is hardly noticeable, while in others it is strongly apparent. Gemstone cutters must take this into account when cutting a Tourmaline, so that the finished gem brings out its best color.
Where is Tourmaline from
Sri Lanka is considered the place where tourmaline was first found several centuries ago. While gem quality tourmaline is still found there, the biggest suppliers of tourmaline today are Brazil, Tanzania, Nigeria, Kenya, Madagascar, and Afghanistan.
Tourmaline Varieties and Nature
- Achroite – Colorless variety of Tourmaline.
- Canary Tourmaline – Bright yellow.
- Cat’s Eye Tourmaline- Tourmaline displaying a cat’s eye effect.
- Chrome Tourmaline – Tourmaline with a deep green color caused by chromium impurities.
- Dravite – Brown variety.
- Elbaite – In the gem industry, the term Elbaite often means the green form, and occasionally the multicolored form.
- Indicolite – Light to dark blue.
- Paraiba Tourmaline – Neon blue.
- Rubellite – Pink to red.
- Schorl – Black form of Tourmaline.
- Siberite – Occasionally used to describe purple Tourmaline.
- Verdelite – Occasionally used to describe green Tourmaline.
- Watermelon Tourmaline – Multicolored Tourmaline with a red center, surrounded by a green outer layer (or vice versa). Watermelon gemstones are multicolored red and green.
Some popular types Tourmalines
- Rubellite Tourmalines
- Paraiba Tourmalines
- Chrome Tourmaline
- Canary Tourmaline
Similar Gemstones as Tourmalines
Because of all the different colors of Tourmaline, it can be confused with numerous gemstones. The most prevalent Tourmaline gemstone colors and those they can be confused with are listed below:
Green Tourmaline – Emerald, Peridot, Demantoid, and Tsavorite.
Red Tourmaline – Ruby, Spinel, Garnet.
Pink Tourmaline – Kunzite, Spinel, Pink Topaz, Morganite, Pink Sapphire.
Blue Tourmaline – Aquamarine, Blue Topaz, Sapphire, Zircon
Perfect for earrings, pendants and rings that tend to undergo most wear and tear, a Tourmaline will be one that lasts for years with the correct love and care. A regular check and clean at a professional jeweler is all you need to keep your gemstone within its setting sparkling.
Source: http://www.minerals.net/gemstone/tourmaline_gemstone.aspx
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