Tourmaline Jewelry Guide: Nature's Most Colorful Gemstone

Tourmaline holds the distinction of being nature's most colorful gemstone, occurring in virtually every color of the rainbow. No other gemstone family offers such an extraordinary range of hues, from vivid neon blues to hot pinks, deep greens, and fascinating bi-colored and multi-colored specimens.

What Is Tourmaline?

Tourmaline is a group of boron silicate minerals with complex compositions that produce an astonishing variety of colors. The name comes from the Sinhalese word "turamali," meaning "mixed gems" — a fitting description for such a diverse mineral family. Tourmaline has a hardness of 7-7.5 on the Mohs scale, making it suitable for all types of jewelry.

Tourmaline Color Varieties

Green Tourmaline

The most common color, ranging from yellowish-green to deep forest green. Chrome tourmaline — colored by chromium like emeralds — is the most valued green variety, displaying vivid, saturated green color.

Pink and Red Tourmaline (Rubellite)

Pink tourmaline ranges from delicate pastel to vivid hot pink. Rubellite — the deep red to purplish-red variety — is among the most prized tourmalines. Fine rubellite can rival rubies in color intensity.

Paraiba Tourmaline

The most valuable tourmaline variety, discovered in Paraiba, Brazil in 1989. Its neon blue-green color, caused by copper, is unlike anything else in the gem world. Fine Paraiba tourmalines can cost thousands of dollars per carat, rivaling the finest sapphires and emeralds.

Watermelon Tourmaline

A bi-colored variety with a pink center and green rim — or vice versa — resembling a watermelon slice. These natural color combinations occur when the chemistry changes during crystal growth and are highly prized by collectors.

Other Varieties

• Indicolite: Blue tourmaline ranging from light to deep blue
• Canary: Bright yellow tourmaline from Malawi
• Black (Schorl): The most abundant tourmaline, used in both jewelry and industrial applications
• Cat's Eye: Tourmaline with chatoyancy — a moving line of light across the surface

Understanding Tourmaline Quality

Color

Vivid, saturated colors without brown or gray modifying tones are most valued. The finest tourmalines display rich, pure color with excellent transparency. In general, rarer colors (Paraiba, rubellite, chrome) command higher prices than more common greens and pinks.

Clarity

Clarity expectations vary by color. Pink and green tourmalines are expected to be eye-clean, while rubellite typically contains more inclusions and is valued primarily on color intensity. Paraiba tourmalines frequently contain inclusions, which are accepted due to the extreme rarity of the material.

Cut

Tourmaline crystals are naturally elongated, making oval and emerald cuts most common. The cutter must orient the stone carefully because tourmaline displays different colors when viewed along different crystal axes (pleochroism). Skilled cutting maximizes the most desirable face-up color.

Tourmaline as a Birthstone

Tourmaline is an October birthstone (alongside opal) and the gemstone for the 8th wedding anniversary. Its vast color range means every October baby can find a tourmaline in their favorite color.

Tourmaline vs Other Gemstones

Green tourmaline offers a more accessible alternative to emeralds with better clarity and durability. Pink tourmaline competes with morganite and pink sapphires. Peridot offers a lighter, more yellow-green compared to tourmaline's deeper greens.

Caring for Tourmaline

Clean with warm soapy water and a soft brush. Avoid ultrasonic and steam cleaners, as tourmaline can be sensitive to heat and pressure. Store separately from harder gemstones. For complete care instructions, visit our gemstone care guide.

Explore our tourmaline collection and read our complete buying guide for expert advice.