Amid the tropical hills of Brazil, at the beginning of the 16th century, a Spanish conquistador washed the dirt off a green tourmaline crystal and mistook this lively, beautiful gem for an emerald. This event gave rise to the misclassification of tourmaline, which, due to its wide range of colors, for a very long time – over three centuries! – was confused with other gemstones: emeralds, rubies, and sapphires among traders and jewelers.It was not until around 1800 that mineralogists recognized tourmaline as a distinct mineral species. The confusion surrounding the stone’s identity is even reflected in its name, which comes from the word toramalli, which in Sinhalese (the language of Sri Lanka) means “stone of mixed colors.” This is a term that was used in reference to multicolored pebbles, weathered by water, which Sinhalese miners found in the gravel beds of Ceylon (now Sri Lanka).
King of Color
These extraordinary volcanic stones can most often be found in hydrothermal granite rock layers of the earth’s crust, where there is natural circulation of hot and cold springs. Accumulated under high pressure water, without access to oxygen, freezes in narrow cracks over hundreds of years, gradually turning into rainbow stones. So far, 15 different colors and shades of a single crystal have been discovered. Such a color range allows us to understand why it was easy to confuse tourmaline with other gemstones: from black and rich reds, to pastel pinks and peaches, intense emerald greens, vibrant shades of yellow, brown, purple, and deep blues – the dazzling color spectrum of this gemstone is unmatched.
Some color varieties are so stunning that they have gained their own commercial names. This type of tourmaline includes Rubellite Tourmaline (with a deep red, purple, orange, and pink color), Paraíba Tourmaline (intensely celadon and neon blue, found only in the state of Paraíba in Brazil), Chrome Tourmaline (characterized by intense green), Watermelon Tourmaline (pink in the center and green on the outside), and Schorl Tourmaline (these crystals are black and are the most commonly occurring specimens of the mineral).In nature, the largest tourmalines encountered so far reach a size of 3-5 meters! They are relatively hard – from 7 to 7.5 on the Mohs hardness scale – yet the mineral itself is perfect for cutting and grinding, and jewelry with this stone is durable.
Global expansion
The supply of tourmaline began to increase in the first half of the twentieth century, when several large deposits were discovered in Brazil. Then, starting from the 1950s, further discoveries emerged, and currently active mines can be found in Africa, Afghanistan, Australia, Burma, Canada, Elba, India, Kenya, Madagascar, Mozambique, Namibia, Nepal, Nigeria, Pakistan, Russia, Siberia, Sri Lanka, Switzerland, Tanzania, Thailand, and the USA.
Legends and healing properties
An ancient legend says that tourmaline occurs in all colors because it traveled along the rainbow with the gods and gathered all its colors within itself.
This extraordinary property of the crystal made it so that in ancient beliefs, tourmaline was thought to have magical properties – it strengthens the body and spirit, has a positive effect on the hormonal and nervous systems, enhances the sense of calm and security, helps with insomnia problems, improves the functioning and flow of blood and lymph in the body. It is also believed to stimulate creativity, which is why it is still used today as a talisman and amulet by artists and writers.
Ring design with pink tourmaline and diamonds from the workshop 79 Diamonds
This seemingly delicate ring design, upon closer inspection, radiates exceptional strength and elegance. The 5mm pink tourmaline visible in the photo is a magnificent gemstone that energetically opens one to love, while supporting feminine yin energy. Four diamonds placed on the rose gold band visually complement the design, giving the jewelry a shine. Two larger diamonds are positioned on the sides of the tourmaline on a heart-shaped setting, while two smaller ones are on a leaf-shaped setting on the left and right sides of the ring. All stones are held in decorative “prongs.” Upon the Client’s individual request, the prongs can be rounded or pointed. The ring design is versatile – the choice of the main stone, side stones, and the precious metal on which they are set also depends on the Client’s taste; choose minerals close to your heart or to the heart of the person you want to gift this unique ring. The project price also includes the possibility of engraving a personal dedication on the jewelry. The inscription can be made by hand or by machine, and it is best to make the decision after consulting with our jewelry designer.