GEMSTONE SPECIES - INORGANIC

Watermelon tourmaline is a spectacular bi-colour or tri-colour variety of elbaite tourmaline, displaying a pink core surrounded by a green outer layer, resembling a slice of watermelon. It is an instantly recognizable gem variety in the tourmaline family due to its vibrant natural colouration.

Unique Colour Zoning --> Watermelon Tourmaline has natural concentric colour zoning, typically pink in the center and green around the outside, like a watermelon slice.
Crystal Growth Formation --> Watermelon tourmaline forms as a single crystal with changing chemistry as it grows pink first, then green later (or vice versa), creating zoned colouration.
Cut & Presentation --> Watermelon tourmaline is often sliced cross-sectionally to showcase the colour zoning.
Use in Jewelry --> Watermelon tourmaline is popular in boho, artisan, or metaphysical-style jewelry, often used in raw or slice form.

Indicolite is the blue to Teal blue-green variety of elbaite tourmaline, prized for its vivid hues ranging from soft sky blue to deep sapphire-like tones. It is one of the rarest and most valuable tourmaline types, cherished by collectors and jewellers alike for its unique colouring and brilliance.

What Makes Indicolite Special:
Rarity --> Pure Teal blue tourmaline is one of the rarest colour varieties in the tourmaline family.
Colour Depth -->  Deep indicolite can resemble fine sapphire, especially when well-cut and clean.
Pleochroism --> Indicolite displays strong pleochroism, meaning it can show multiple colours when viewed from different angles, often shifting from deep blue to bluish-green or grey.
Value --> High-quality indicolite is expensive due to rarity. Pure, rich blue tones with excellent clarity and cut command premium prices.

Rubellite is the red, pink, or purplish-red variety of elbaite tourmaline, named for its resemblance to the colour of rubies. It is one of the most prized and valuable tourmaline varieties, admired for its rich hues and remarkable brilliance.

Not all red or pink tourmalines are rubellites. A tourmaline is classified as true rubellite based on below conditions:
--> The colour remains vibrant under all lighting conditions (natural and artificial).
--> It shows a deep ruby-like tone (not washed out or brownish).
--> The gem is not simply pink tourmaline, which can be lighter and less saturated.

Rare Ruby-Like Colour:
True rubellite displays a rich, saturated red or purplish-red, a rare colour in the gemstone world. Deeper and more vibrant than most pink tourmalines.

Treatment & Inclusions:
Most rubellites are not heat-treated; their colour is usually natural.
Inclusions are common and accepted, similar to emeralds.

Cat’s Eye Tourmaline is a rare form of tourmaline that exhibits chatoyancy, or the cat’s eye effect, a narrow band of reflected light that glides across the surface of the gem, resembling the slit pupil of a cat. This effect gives the stone a magical, silky appearance, making it highly prized by collectors and gemstone enthusiasts.

What Causes the Cat’s Eye Effect?
The optical effect is due to parallel, needle-like inclusions, usually rutile or hollow tube structures, aligned within the crystal. When cut into a cabochon, light reflects off these inclusions, forming a sharp, moving line across the gem.
Colour Varieties:
--> Found in several hues, though green, yellowish-brown, and dark hues are the most common.
--> Pink and red cat’s eye tourmalines are especially rare and coveted.

Paraiba Tourmaline is one of the rarest and most valuable gemstones on earth, famous for its intense neon blue, green, or turquoise hues. Its glowing colour comes from trace amounts of copper and manganese. 

What Makes Paraiba Tourmaline Different?
Copper Content --> It's the only tourmaline type coloured by copper, which gives it that electrifying glow-from-within effect.
Neon Colours --> Paraiba's glowing turquoise and electric blue tones are unlike any other gemstone. They appear to be lit from within, even in dim light.
Extreme Rarity --> Fine-quality Paraiba tourmaline is far rarer than diamond, especially those over 1 carat from Brazil.
Value --> One of the most expensive gemstones per carat, especially if it has strong saturation, good clarity, and Brazilian origin.
How to Identify an Authentic Paraiba?
--> Vivid electric blue or greenish-blue colour
--> Some internal inclusions (a sign it's natural)
--> Certification from trusted labs
Avoid:
--> Stones with no glow or overly clear colours (likely treated or imitation)
--> Low-cost “Paraiba” stones with vague origin info (could be fake or non-copper bearing)

(Note: Only stones from Brazil's original mines are considered "true" Paraiba Tourmalines by some gemologists, but the term is now often used geographically and commercially for all copper-bearing tourmalines with vivid colouring)

Bi-colour tourmaline is a stunning variety of tourmaline that features two distinct colours in a single crystal, often occurring naturally as a colour transition or zone. This phenomenon is caused by variations in trace elements during crystal growth, making every bi-colour tourmaline unique.

Common Colour Combinations
--> Pink & Green (often called Watermelon Tourmaline if the colours are concentric)
--> Green & Blue
--> Pink & Blue
--> Colourless & Pink
--> Yellow & Green

Bi-colour zoning can appear as:
--> Horizontal stripes
--> Vertical layers
--> End-to-end colour shift
--> Blended transitions or sharp boundaries
--> No two bi-colour tourmalines are exactly alike.