CAN WE TALK TOURMALINE?!-JEWELRY REPAIR, JEWELRY APPRAISAL

 

Bi-coloured Tourmaline crystal, 0.8 inches lon...

 

With October well underway its time to talk about October’s other birthstone, Tourmaline.  First off Tourmaline is actually a group of gemstones and not just one species like corundum is with the only difference is color.  All tourmalines share the same crystal structure.  Tourmaline crystals grow in long crystals with a triangular cross-section.  The crystal structure makes for not only very large and elongated stones but changes in the formation process can affect color.  This is known as color zoning.  These combinations are called bi-color or parti-colored (three or more).  Most stone cutters really like to take advantage of this when cutting the stones.  Some can show even color splits so that they are half and half or mostly one color with a bold stripe of a second color.  Some are so striking in color blocking they remind me of a Mark Rothko painting. Another form which is quite popular is called watermelon tourmaline.  A pink tourmaline is surrounded by green tourmaline while they are forming so when the stone is sliced it looks like a slice of watermelon.

Some of the more popular colors of tourmaline are Chrome tourmaline which is a bright green color.  It gets its name from the element Vanadium.  Schorl is midnight black, and was once fashioned in mourning jewelry.  Paraiba tourmaline is highly prized because it is a bright electric blue and the highest quality rival in price with sapphires and emeralds.  Rubellite is known for its hot pink color.

While tourmalines are found all over the world the most variety comes from Brazil.    At Raymond Lee Jewelers we have a wide variety of tourmaline jewelry to show you.  We also have access to fine tourmaline if you would like to have something custom made or if you need your tourmaline jewelry repaired or a  jewelry appraisal please feel free to call me, Richard your south florida jewelry guru.