Dark Blue Tourmaline

Tourmaline is one of the most diverse and enigmatic gemstones in the world. Its history reaches deep into the past: people used tourmaline long before mineralogy learned to precisely distinguish precious minerals. Due to the richness of its hues, it was often mistaken for ruby, emerald or sapphire. Even the Portuguese navigators who discovered green tourmalines in Brazil in the 16th century were convinced they had found emerald deposits.

The very name of the stone derives from the Sinhalese word toramalli — "mixed precious stones". This designation perfectly captures the essence of tourmaline: no other gemstone possesses such a broad palette of colours and hues.

Tourmaline — a gemstone with an infinite palette of colours

Tourmaline is considered one of the foremost precious minerals for its extraordinary colour diversity. Nature yields almost every hue of the spectrum — from delicate pastel tones to vivid neon colours. This is precisely why jewellers and collectors prize it so highly: every stone is utterly unique.

Rubellite

Sumptuous shades ranging from delicate pink to deep raspberry red. Some specimens possess such intense colour that they rival the finest rubies. The most prized stones are those with pronounced inner luminosity and purity of colour.

Indicolite

A rare blue to blue-green tourmaline of distinguished depth of hue. Its colour may range from deep sea blue to cool blue-green. Such stones appear exceptionally elegant, particularly in white gold or platinum.

Paraíba Tourmaline

A true legend among collector's gemstones. This variety was discovered relatively recently — in 1988 — in the Brazilian state of Paraíba. The stone caused an immediate sensation with its extraordinary neon luminescence.

Paraíba is distinguished by its intense blue, turquoise and blue-green hues, which appear to glow from within. This effect is created by the copper and manganese present within the mineral. The finest specimens possess an almost electric radiance and rank among the most valuable tourmalines in the world.

Chrome Tourmaline

A rare variety of deep emerald green. Its colouration is caused by vanadium — the same element that lends colour to many celebrated emeralds from Brazil and Africa. Thanks to the depth of its hue, chrome tourmaline exudes luxury even in smaller sizes.

Polychrome Tourmaline

Unique stones in which nature has united several colours at once. The most celebrated combination is green and pink, though far more complex colour gradations also exist. Every specimen is an absolute original.

Watermelon Tourmaline

One of the most celebrated varieties. The centre of the stone bears a pink hue while the outer portion is green, truly evoking a cross-section of watermelon. These crystals are often sliced into sections to best reveal the natural pattern of the mineral.

The American History of Tourmaline

At the close of the 19th century, tourmaline became a symbol of American jewellery culture, thanks to the celebrated gemmologist of Tiffany & Co., George Frederick Kunz. It was he who brought renown to the tourmaline deposits of the states of Maine and California and described in detail the beauty of their stones.

Although tourmaline gained popularity in America, its largest market for a long time was China. The Imperial Court prized this mineral for its rich colouration and employed it for carved miniatures, jewellery and exquisite snuff boxes.

In the 20th century, the world's tourmaline reserves began to expand significantly. Large deposits were first discovered in Brazil, and from the 1950s new sources were found across the globe. This enabled jewellers to create ever more daring and original pieces with this stone.

Exceptional Optical Effects

Some tourmalines exhibit the "cat's eye" effect — a delicate band of light on the surface of the stone. This phenomenon is known as chatoyancy. It manifests with particular splendour in green, blue and pink tourmalines.

This effect arises from extremely fine natural inclusions within the mineral. To best showcase the luminous band, the stone is cut in the form of a cabochon — a smooth, domed cut without facets. Such specimens are extraordinarily elegant and of great collector's value.

Why Tourmaline Is So Prized Today

Tourmaline is the stone of individuality. Unlike many classic gemstones, it is not associated with a single recognisable colour or style. It may be delicate and romantic, bold and striking, yet simultaneously refined and aristocratic.

The most prized tourmalines are those of high clarity, rich colour and inner luminosity. Rare varieties — Paraíba in particular — have long transcended the realm of conventional jewellery stones to become investment-grade and collector's gemstones.

Jewels set with tourmaline are chosen by those who seek not only luxury, but the character of the stone itself — its vitality, depth and singularity.