Tourmaline is its own mineral and is found in nearly all colors, but the most desired color is pink to pinkish red, also called hot red. The presence of various trace elements such as aluminum or iron creates different shades of various colors in tourmaline. The presence of manganese gives pink tourmalines their color.
Pink tourmaline scores 7.5 on the Mohs scale of hardness, making it suitable for any type of jewelry. It is particularly popular in engagement rings largely due to the fact that it provides an excellent value proposition along with durability. One can maintain a luxurious look in everyday life.
Pink tourmaline is generally associated with providing a relaxed state of mind and it is also said to promote compassion and wisdom.
Pink tourmaline is also called Rubellite and it is the sister stone of Paraiba Tourmaline. Unlike Paraiba Tourmaline, Pink tourmaline has a long history that dates back to the 1800s.
Pink tourmaline has increased in popularity over time mainly due to its bright, rich color, incredible rarity, and durability for everyday jewelry. Pink tourmalines are naturally exceptionally dazzling with a shine that attracts the eye apart from being beautiful and rich in color.
Pink gemstones, such as tourmalines and morganites, have become increasingly popular in the precious gemstone market, and pink tourmaline has become an apparent choice of individuals seeking alternatives to other gemstones or a specific pink hue.
Pink tourmaline is a rare gemstone though not as rare as its sister stone Paraiba tourmaline. Those looking to add a rare piece to their collection are naturally drawn towards this magnificent gemstone. It is also the choice of individuals seeking to invest into something rare today in order to reap the benefits of increase in value later.
The color intensity, clarity, and transparency of a pink tourmaline are the three key characteristics that determine its quality. The price of a pink tourmaline, like that of any other gemstone, is directly proportional to its quality. The carat weight of a pink tourmaline is also an important element in determining its price These factors are described in detail hereunder which form the basis for a letter grade system (A-AAA) generally used to grade overall quality of a color gemstone.
The color of a pink tourmaline is the most important quality criterion and it determines the price of the gemstone. The most desirable color is anywhere between light pink and hot pink. The color should be well-distributed with a high saturation level and the stone must be transparent. The price of a tourmaline increases with the increase in color saturation to a point where it doesn’t become overtly dark or oversaturated. At that point its price drops significantly. A very light color tourmaline and extremely dark / opaque tourmaline will have almost the same price.
Clarity refers to the presence or absence of internal and external imperfections in a gemstone. Unlike diamonds, color gemstones do not have any universal clarity grading system. Generally, tourmaline is a much clearer gemstone when compared to other gemstones and as such clear tourmalines are easy to find with jewelers of repute. In the wholesale trade, we evaluate the clarity of a tourmaline in the following manner.
Transparency refers to the attribute of a gemstone to let the light pass through. The more light passes through the more transparent the stone. Everyone loves transparent gems because the colors appear vivid. The only problem with higher transparency is that the flaws in the gemstone are more visible as compared to less transparent stone.
The rough of pink tourmaline is cut in a way to obtain the desired color saturation of the pink tourmaline since the price is primarily dependent on the color. Lighter material is cut deeper to allow the gem to hold more light and increase saturation, whereas darker material is cut shallower to allow more light to pass through the stone.
Cutting a gemstone requires a high degree of skill which is mastered with years of practice and patience.
Carat (ct) is the primary unit to measure the weight of a gemstone. One carat equals one-fifth of a gram or one gram has five carats. The deep or the shallow cut of a pink tourmaline will have a bearing on its apparent size thereby making it important to consider other measurements such as length and width which are expressed in millimeters. A 7x5mm Oval can weigh 0.80cts or 1.5cts, depending on its depth and cutting style.
Pink tourmalines are sourced from many countries around the world. There are rich deposits of Pink tourmaline in Brazil, Nigeria, Mozambique, Madagascar, Afghanistan, Namibia and the United States. Muzo mines of Brazil and Namibia are known to produce fine quality Pink tourmalines. California in the United States also holds the repute of having higher quality deposits.
Pink tourmaline is a fairly hard gemstone and doesn’t require much care. But here are a few things that you can do to keep your Pink tourmaline jewelry looking new.
