A Complete Guide to Birthstone Gems
Legend says that when tourmaline came into being, it slid down the rainbow and inhabited all of its different colors. It's undoubtedly true that these gemstones come in just about every color, and it makes them useful for all sorts of jewelry. Bracelets, necklaces, rings, pins, and earrings all take advantage of the sparkling stone to create plenty of unique and fun designs. Finding the right tourmaline jewelry piece for you simply means finding out what colors and styles match your needs.
The most common type of tourmaline is Schorl, but this stone goes by a variety of names and has a wide range of looks. Rubellite, Liddicoatite, Elbaite, and Paraíba are just a few of the named tourmaline varieties. They also appear in many shades and hues. Watermelon tourmaline has a pink center surrounded by green on the outside. Dravite tourmaline colors include yellow, orange, and brown tones, changing color depending on the stone's angle. It even appears completely clear as quartz sometimes.
The region tourmaline gems come from has much to do with their appearance. Africa, Brazil, Madagascar, Sri Lanka, and even the United States all offer their own types of tourmaline. Sometimes, a green or blue hue is produced when copper becomes part of the stone. In others, bi-, or even tri-colored gems, are caused by mixing various minerals and inclusions.
The first tourmaline crystals surfaced around 1554 in Brazil. An expedition led by Francisco Spinoza came across green crystals that they initially called "Brazilian Emeralds." Legends about these mystery stones appeared in other countries as well, including Egypt. In the 1800s, scientists rediscovered the stone in Sri Lanka. It then received its name from the word "toramalli," which means "mixed gems." From then on, the stones popped up worldwide, causing new surges in their popularity every so often.
Its use in jewelry was especially strong in the Chinese market, but it makes appearances in numerous cultures. Red tourmaline jewelry came out of Afghanistan, and blue came from the Paraíba area of Brazil. Rings, pendants, and bracelets all take advantage of the colorful shine as accents or centerpieces.