FACETED NATURAL WATERMELON TOURMALINE

The GoGoanna collection of natural gemstones has been purveyed by qualified gemmologists for over 30 years. Take advantage of the collection of Brazilian Tourmalines that are being offered from the treasure trove.

This Brazilian tourmaline gemstone collection has a romantic history, purveyed on location or acquired in Teofilo Otoni, Minas Gerais, Brazil. These hidden gems were mined in the late 20th century and have been keep in GoGoanna's treasure trove for over 30 years. Now open to connoisseurs.

ROMANCE, HISTORY & LORE

When Dutch traders returned with gems from Sri Lanka in the early 1700’s, they called any unfamiliar stones by the Sinhalese name “turamali” meaning “stones with mixed colors.” Thus, any stone not recognized as a ruby or sapphire simply became a “turmali.”

Since then, science has enabled us to distinguish and classify the gems, which included zircons, fancy sapphires, beryls, chrysoberyls, feldspars and garnets, as well as gems belonging to a broad species now known as tourmaline.

Tourmaline is a relatively modern gemstone; only since the gemological boom of the 1970s was it widely appreciated. During this time, designers began experimenting with exciting techniques and unconventional settings, and the world took notice of tourmaline’s incredible variety.

ORIGINS

.Today, Brazil produces the largest volume of this gemstone, as well as the widest coloUr variety for a single location. Nigeria has also seen recent production of tourmaline in unusual coloUrs and sizes. Regions of lesser tourmaline production include Afghanistan, Pakistan, Kenya, Tanzania, Madagascar and Mozambique.

 With a hardness of 7 – 7.5, tourmaline is quite resistant to scratching, chipping, and cracking, making it an excellent choice for everyday wear.

SPECIAL PROPERTIES

Although green is the most common hue, tourmaline naturally occurs in virtually thousands of shades, tones and coloUr combinations—more than any other gemstone. One of the most distinctive features of tourmalines is pleochroism, the presence differing coloUrs or depths of colour when the gem is rotated. Because of its strong pleochroism, tourmaline is especially adored by skilled lapidaries, who can cut the gemstone in such a way that it appears multicolored.

While almost all gems are a variety of a single mineral, tourmaline is comprised of a group of minerals. These minerals’ chemical compositions and crystalline structures work in concert to produce tourmaline’s beautiful coloruing. Because of tourmaline’s endless colour spectrum, most shades don’t have a particular name— they are simply called “pink” tourmaline or “golden” tourmaline. However, there are also some distinct categories: Rubellite tourmaline is a reddish-pink variation often confused with rubies and pink sapphires. Indicolite tourmaline offers hues of minty blue. Stones of the purest blue are particularly sought-after. Chrome tourmaline is a grassy green considered distinct from green tourmaline, due to the presence of chromium. Found in East Africa, chrome tourmaline is rare and usually found in smaller sizes. Watermelon tourmaline is a phenomenon in which a tourmaline crystal has a core of pinkish-red surrounded by layers of white and green. When cut correctly, the resulting stone resembles a slice of watermelon. Paraíba tourmaline, the most expensive of tourmalines, is a copper-bearing, electric blue-green stone. Originating in Paraíba, Brazil, its occurrence is very rare, and it commands high prices. The color of Caribbean seas, Paraíba tourmaline’s most unusual trait is its mystical fluorescent glow. Rare tourmalines also exhibit the chatoyant or cat’s-eye phenomenon. This occurs when natural thread-like cavities running parallel to the length of the crystal are cut en cabochon.

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