The first tourmalines were discovered in the 1500s, and they were often mistaken for other gemstones such as emeralds and zircons. Tourmalines have a hardness of 7-7.5 on the Mohs scale. Tourmalines come in a variety of colors, spanning the entire spectrum of the rainbow. One notable variety is the Paraiba tourmaline.
Paraiba tourmaline is considered the rarest and most valuable type of tourmaline. Unrefined Paraiba tourmaline, with prices comparable to high-quality rubies, sapphires, and even diamonds, is highly sought after by collectors and gem enthusiasts.
✦ Neon colors:
Blue, Greenish Blue, Violet Blue, and Turquoise.
✦ History:
Paraiba tourmaline was first discovered in the Brazilian state of Paraiba in 1987 by geologist Heitor Dimas Barbosa. After five years of dedicated searching, Barbosa unearthed this unique gemstone that exhibited remarkable brilliance even in low light conditions. The gemstone made its debut at the prestigious Tucson Gem and Mineral Show in the United States in the 1990s. Its striking beauty and rarity quickly captured the attention of the gemstone world, leading to a surge in demand. Due to the limited supply of tourmaline from a small mining area, the price of Paraiba tourmaline has soared, with untreated specimens from Brazil fetching up to $50,000 per carat.
✦ Recommended gemological laboratories:
GÜBELIN, GRS, SSEF, GIA.
Currently, most gemological laboratories, with the exception of GRS, do not explicitly state in their certificates whether tourmaline has been heated. Instead, they may indicate that "no evidence of heating was found" or that they cannot determine whether the stone was heated.
