The Paraiba Tourmaline
With hues of electric blue & glowing green, its not difficult to fall in love with the magical Paraiba Tourmaline. Some would call it the most precious and valuable gemstone in the world.
Discovered in the 1980's, by Heitor Dimas Barbosa, the Paraiba tourmaline can fetch prices upwards of $250,000 per carat.
Paraiba Tourmaline comes from the Brazilian state of Paraiba. In the short decades after it was discovered, it quickly became one of the most sought after gemstones in the world.
Tourmalines from Brazil are readily available in almost every colour, however none display the neon glow of the Paraiba tourmaline.
The Paraiba owes its luminous neon blue & green colour to the presence of trace elements, Copper (Cu) & Manganese (Mn).
In 2003, almost identical to the Paraiba tourmaline, neon green and blue tourmalines were unearthed in Mozambique and Nigeria. Much debate stands as to whether these can be considered 'Paraiba' Tourmalines.
Images: GIA & Amsterdam Sauer.
