No, we're not talking about birthstones, we’re talking about gemstones you can enjoy no matter when you were born!
For August we're featuring a gem that a lot of people already love… tourmaline!
Here are our top three reasons why you should love tourmaline too (that is, if you don’t already):
1. SO MANY COLORS!!
Tourmaline has one of the widest color ranges of any gem. According to GIA.com, it naturally occurs in “various shades of virtually every hue.” Tourmaline can be very light in color, so dark it appears black, or even appear with multiple colors in one stone. Many of these colors have even inspired their own trade names, such as rubellite for pink to red and chrome tourmaline for the emerald-like intense green.
Geralyn has made many pieces using tourmaline because of the plethora of color options it provides. Its versatility makes it a great option for any of her fine jewelry collections. She always keeps several of these loose stones in stock so she is prepared for the next spark of inspiration or custom piece request.
2. Gorgeous in the Rough
Although this gemstone is stunning when cut and used in jewelry, it is also gorgeous in its natural state! Watermelon tourmaline is characterized by its color: pink surrounded by green. It is often sliced and used in a rougher state rather than as a cut gemstone. The same is often true for black tourmaline, one of the most common meditation crystals, which is said to deflect negative energies, entities, and destructive forces. It also said to provide grounding, supportive energy and promote self-confidence.
In fact, many varieties of tourmaline are used in their natural state for their various metaphysical properties and many individuals choose them for their jewelry pieces because of these perceived benefits. Whether you choose them in the rough or cut and polished, whether you subscribe to the idea of their metaphysical benefits or not, tourmalines are undeniably beautiful.
3. An Affordable Luxury Look
Since there is such a wide variety of colors, cuts, and other factors influencing price, tourmaline can fit into literally any price range. Certain colors are more sought after and tend to be more expensive, but if you have some flexibility with your color choice, clarity, and depth of color you can usually find a beautiful tourmaline that will work for your budget.
If you’re looking for true luxury, you’ll probably be interested in Paraíba tourmaline. These exhibit extraordinary colors in blue, green, and violet hues which have been described as “electric” and “neon” due to their native copper inclusions. They are much more rare than other types of tourmaline. If you’re looking for more affordable, but still stunning options, you’ll probably want to look at the pink or green tourmaline which are both quite popular, but much more common and readily available.
Want to learn more about other gems and gemology in general? Check out our Gemology page!
