About a quarter century ago, in the Brazilian state of Paraiba, a new variety of tourmaline was discovered. This new tourmaline would – due to its rarity and intense, seemingly lit-from-within, color – become the first tourmaline to be classified as a “precious” gemstone (as opposed to semi-precious). Due to the presence of the copper where the stones were mined, the vivid hues of Paraiba tourmaline are found in the green-blue to blue-violet range, with those the color of Windex™ being the most sought after. FACT: A large amount of Brazilian Paraiba tourmaline is actually mined in the state adjacent to Paraiba, Rio Grande do Norte (although the stones tend to be of a slightly less intense color). This is good, since Paraiba Hill, home to the original Paraiba mine, has been completely depleted.

Around the turn of the millennium, Paraiba-like tourmaline containing copper was found in Nigeria; and though its color was generally lighter in tone and less saturated than its Brazilian counterpart, it featured far fewer inclusions. More recently, in Mozambique, more copper-containing tourmaline was discovered, and is generally less included and larger than those from Brazil. As far as color and clarity go, the Mozambique-mined stones are more intense than that found in Nigeria, having more in common with those mined in Rio Grande do Norte.

Unlike most gems, it is the intensity and saturation of color, not the size of the stone that generally determines the value of Paraiba tourmaline. So, all things being equal, if a jeweler is deciding between a smaller stone with intense color and a larger stone with a less vivid hue, odds are that the smaller stone will win-out. Additionally, inclusions are particularly common with Paraiba tourmaline – especially those from Brazil, so don’t be surprised when seeing included stones in “important” pieces from some of the world’s most exclusive jewelers.

To give you an idea of just how rare these stones are, there is only one Paraiba tourmaline mined for every 10,000 diamonds. They are also, as a general rule, quite small – with a gem-quality Brazilian Paraiba tourmaline larger than 3cts being particularly rare. As such, it’s not unheard of to come across intense, flawless, gem-quality Paraiba tourmalines from Brazil fetching $30,000/carat.

Following are the details and descriptions of the pieces in the above collage; clockwise from the top-left:

CHOPARD – Cocktail ring featuring a 22.89ct luminescent Paraiba tourmaline set in pave diamonds, from the “Red Carpet 2013” Collection (price upon request)

VICTOR VELYAN – 18kt and 24kt yellow gold crocodile skin textured ring, set with a Paraiba tourmaline of 11.38cts, surrounded with 0.73cts of pave diamonds ($35,200)

H.STERN – Paraiba tourmaline and diamond necklace from the “Nature” Collection (price upon request)

TIFFANY & CO. – Platinum cocktail ring featuring a 3.71ct flawless Brazilian Paraiba tourmaline surrounded with appx 1cts diamonds (price upon request)

MICHELLE DELLA VALLE – 18K white gold ring featuring a 9.04ct Paraiba tourmaline surrounded by round melee pink sapphires and Paraiba tourmalines (sold at auction for $128,000)

SARA WEINSTOCK – Black rhodium-plated silver snake earrings with white pave diamond detail and brilliant Paraiba tourmaline teardrops set with white pave diamond surround ($13,580)

PAMELA FROMAN FINE JEWELRY – One of a kind “Hera’s Crush” pendant in 18kt yellow crushed gold with an 18.03ct Australian boulder opal framed by two rows of pave-set Paraiba tourmalines ($20.900)

VIANNA BRASIL – 24.69ct Paraiba tourmaline with frame and necklace of diamonds (estimated price - $1.5 million)

HARRY WINSTON – One of a kind cocktail ring set with 7 round Paraiba tourmalines totaling 7.84cts and 72 brilliant diamonds totaling 6.11cts (price upon request)

AMSTERDAM SAUER – Figural "Buttefly" brooch in 18-kt white gold composed of 13.61-carat paraiba tourmaline and diamonds weighing in total 2.98-carat (price upon request)

NICHOLAS VARNEY JEWELS – “Mushroom” ring in 18k yellow gold, with 10.15cts of cabochon Paraiba tourmalines accented by pavé diamonds and tsavorite garnet ($28,500)

MARTIN KATZ – Drop earrings from the “Dangle” Collection, with cabochon Paraiba tourmalines and micro-set with 56 Paraiba tourmalines and 268 diamonds, set in 18kt white gold ($49,000)

TAMIR JEWELS – One of a kind hand-crafted platinum cocktail ring set with 4.18cts of round-brilliant and rose-cut diamonds surrounding a 28.98ct intense Brazilian Paraiba tourmaline (estimated price - $180,000)

STEVEN FOX FINE JEWELRY – A cabochon Paraiba tourmaline set in platinum with sugarloaf ruby accents and diamonds (sold for $68,850)

VICTOR VELYAN – One of a kind braided multi-strand necklace of Paraiba tourmaline beads (sold for $185,000)

CHANEL FINE JEWELRY – One of a kind 38ct flawless intense Paraiba tourmaline encircled by diamonds and sea-blue enamel (If you have to ask…)

YOSSI HARARI - “Roxanne” Ring of Oxidized Silver and 24K yellow gold set with teal pave diamonds surrounding an emerald-cut Paraiba tourmaline  ($49,330)

AMSTERDAM SAUER – “Lumina” earrings in 18kt white gold with 10.50cts of Paraíba tourmalines and 1.34cts of diamonds (price upon request)

Paraiba Tourmaline
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