Nata Heng Schluessel, GG
Roland Schluessel, FGA
Tourmalines
 The Golconda pegmatite in Minas Gerais has been famous for his fine Tourmalinecrystals.jpg) |
 Some of the World's finest Rubellites have been found at Cruzeiro.jpg) |
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| The Golconda pegmatite in Minas Gerais has been famous for his fine Tourmaline crystals. | Some of the World's finest Rubellites have been found at Cruzeiro, Brazil. |
The color spectrum of the Tourmaline family is endless, so are our possibilities and your options. We provide matching pairs, suites and sets in 1 carat to 20 carats sizes.
If you are Tourmaline lovers as we are ourselves, and if your heart beats for the “electric neon colors” of the Paraiba Tourmalines, then you have colorful reasons to try PILLAR & STONE INTERNATIONAL.
WHAT IS A GEM TOURMALINE?
APPEARANCE:
No gemstone has such richness in color variation as Tourmaline. For this reason, this attractive gemstone family is called the “Rainbow Gem”.
In the jewelry business trade names are used to describe a Tourmaline variety, rather than the confusing mineralogical terms. The most popular are:
- Green Tourmaline or Verdelite for the most common green Tourmaline variety.
- Blue Tourmaline or Indigolite (or Indicolite) for the blue stones.
- Rubellite for the red color Tourmalines.
- Pink Tourmaline for the pink variety.
In addition, Tourmalines are found in all other colors, color tones and combinations of color hues. Bicolor and even tricolor stones are frequently used for creative design jewelry.
Tourmalines are most attractive in pastel colors and are recommended for use in jewelry. Darker stones, especially those with a darker color tone than 6, lack beauty. Such colors appear especially beautiful under artificial lighting.
All Tourmalines with a slight brownish hue are not considered as attractive and are moderately priced.
Dichroism = Moderate to strong.
Transparency = Transparent.
Brilliancy = High.
 A 32 ct Brazilian Rubellite.jpg)
Clarity = With the exception of Rubellite, Paraiba Tourmaline and Cat’s-Eye Tourmaline, gem-quality stones are expected to be “eye-clean”.
Phenomena = Cat’-eye (semitransparent; lower part unpolished).
PHYSICAL PROPERTIES:
Hardness = 7 to 7 ½.
Toughness = Fair.
Cleavage = None.
Refractive Index = 1.624 – 1.644
Specific Gravity = 3.06 (+ 0.20, - 0.6)
CLEANING METHODS:
Ultrasonic and Steamer = Risky, particularly with included stones.
Warm soapy water = Safe.
STABILITY:
Reaction to heat = Strong heat may alter color and sudden temperature changes may cause fracturing.
MAJOR SOURCES:
Brazil, Mozambique, Afghanistan, Madagascar, Namibia and many other sources.
ENHANCEMENTS:
Mainly heated; heat enhancement is a common and accepted traditional enhancement. Pink Tourmalines may be irradiated to red. Visible inclusions may be masked by induced oil.
IMITATIONS:
Glass, assembled stones (e.g. doublets and triplets) and other gemstones of lower value.
