Discovered in 1989, paraíba tourmalines are among the world’s most prized gemstones. These rare gems are renowned for showing intense blue colors.

Paraiba tourmaline is an extremely rare brightly coloured copper-bearing/cuprian elbaite (tourmaline) that shows intense blues and greens. It was discovered by an avid gem prospector named Heitor Dimas Barbosa in the late 1980s in the Batalha mine, in the state of Paraíba, Brazil, hence the name.

Currently, the paraíbas with the highest value have neon blue colors with strong saturation and medium tone. Many of these gems also have a secondary green hue. Slight green secondary hues won’t impact prices, but stronger hues will. Blue-green and green paraíbas usually hold less value than purer blue stones. (Popularly, paraíbas are associated closely with intense blue colors). Paraíbas with rarer colors, like pink, violet, and purple, don’t command higher prices because there’s less demand for them.