The tourmaline stone shouldn’t be overlooked by other colored gems. This October birthstone may not be as well known, however, that doesn’t make it any less stunning. Tourmaline jewelry is a must-have in your jewelry collection – especially if you love color and beauty.
Before adding this stunning gem to your jewelry box, discover these fascinating tourmaline facts.
THE OTHER OCTOBER BIRTHSTONE
October is one of those lucky months that has more than one birthstone. The original October gemstone was Opal up until 1952 when Jewelers of America updated their list. That’s when tourmaline became one of October’s birthstones. Specifically, it’s the pink tourmaline that’s considered to be the October gemstone.
DIFFERENT TOURMALINE COLORS
While the pink tourmaline is most associated as the October birthstone, tourmaline has the widest color range of any gemstone. The array of colors was often mistaken as other popular gemstones (ruby, sapphire, emerald, etc.) until modern mineralogy was developed. Here are some popular tourmaline colors:
- RUBELLITE:
- INDICOLITE:
- CHROME TOURMALINE:
- PARTI-COLORED TOURMALINE:
- WATERMELON TOURMALINE:
WHAT’S IN A NAME
Tourmaline comes from the Sinhalese words tura mali which mean “mixed gems.” This is based on the wide array of colors that tourmaline is found in.
WHERE TOURMALINE STONES ARE FOUND
Just like there’s several colors of the tourmaline stone, there are also several places that October’s birthstone can be found. A major source for the tourmaline stone is Brazil. Tourmaline stones can also be found in the United States with mines in California, Maine and New Hampshire.
Here are the places that October’s gemstone is mined:
- Afghanistan
- Brazil
- Kenya
- Madagascar
- Mozambique
- Myanmar
- Namibia
- Pakistan
- Russia
- United States
HOW TO CARE FOR A TOURMALINE STONE
Tourmaline ranks a 7 to 7.5 on the Mohs scale of hardness so its toughness is considered fair. When cleaning tourmaline at home, use warm, soapy water. If you own an ultrasonic cleaner or a steam cleaner, do not use it on the gemstone. If you are ever unsure about cleaning your jewelry, contact us or bring the piece into our Palm Harbor studio and we’ll safely clean it.
For more information on caring for your tourmaline jewelry, check out our jewelry care basic guide.
Tourmaline jewelry always makes for a good gift for someone born in October or even a treat for yourself. Contact us to get started on a custom tourmaline jewelry piece. Or browse our fashion jewelry – any piece you see can be used as a setting for a tourmaline stone (prices will change). Everything is custom made and designed at our Palm Harbor studio.
