Paraiba Tourmaline
To the fine collectors of the world, the word Paraiba conjures excitement and desire. They are aware of the clarity and intense neon color found in these rich gemstones. Though tourmaline comes in almost any color imaginable, they were never found in a radiant turquoise shade
We have one of the finest collections of genuine Brazilian paraiba tourmaline jewelry in Florida. Other sources of paraiba tourmaline have been discovered since the original Brazilian mines were mined out, but the other sources lack the fire and depth of color of the Brazilian mines. See our collection below.
The History Of Paraiba Tourmaline
The history of Paraíba tourmaline includes its discovery, the mining of the original deposits, and the discovery of similar stones in other countries:
Discovery
In 1989, Brazilian geologist Heitor Dimas Barbosa and his team discovered Paraíba tourmaline in the Paraíba Hills of Brazil. The team spent years digging with hand tools and candlelight, convinced that something special was beneath the hill.
Mining
The original mine, called the Batalha mine, produced some of the finest tourmaline crystals in the world. However, the finest stones were mined out by the mid-1990s. Today, mining continues at the original discovery site and at nearby workings.
Similar stones discovered in other countries
In 2001, similar stones were discovered in Nigeria, and in 2003, more were found in Mozambique. These stones are also considered to be Paraíba tourmalines, and the world’s production of Paraíba tourmaline is estimated to be only about 0.03% that of diamonds.
Price escalation
The price of Paraíba tourmaline began to escalate in 1990 at the Tucson Gem Shows, and the price quintupled in just four days. The stone’s mystique continued to grow throughout the 1990s, and it is now one of the most valuable gemstones in the world.
Copper-Bearing Variety
Paraíba tourmaline is a copper-bearing variety of tourmaline, and its unique bright blue-green color comes from the presence of copper and manganese.
