Paraiba tourmaline is a variety of the mineral tourmaline which comes in almost every color. Paraiba is the vivid blue to green variety of the mineral discovered in the late 1980s. If you think it is just another gemstone without any exceptional quality or hallmark, you couldn’t be more wrong. What if I told you that this stone outdoes diamond in terms of rarity, wouldn’t you be surprised? But that’s true. Rarity is an imperial property of a gem and it plays a significant part in determining its value.
Rarity of Paraiba Tourmaline
Diamonds and many other gemstones have numerous mines throughout the world. However, for paraiba tourmalines there are only a handful. So, now you can imagine how big of a difference there is between diamonds and paraibas in the market. For perspective, if you start mining for diamonds and paraibas simultaneously, you’ll find only one gemstone for 10,000 diamonds. Sadly, despite being rarer than diamond, paraiba tourmaline had to lean on its rarity to become a girl’s best friend. And that too after decades of the gemstone’s discovery.
Now, such rarity is a pretty big deal and a lucky break for a gemstone that a majority of people isn’t aware of. One of the reasons for their scarcity is the unusual condition needed for their formation. As per researchers, the crystals of this gemstone form with an ample amount of trace elements manganese and copper. These trace elements act as coloring agents for paraiba tourmaline gemstones. Paraiba is the only tourmaline in which the trace element copper acts as the coloring agent.
Although copper is present in other varieties of tourmaline, it doesn’t drive their colorss. Surprisingly, this combination of uniqueness and rarity, coupled with the recent and unobtrusive discovery of paraiba tourmaline, has long been an insuperable hindrance to its potential value and popularity. However, times have changed and the peculiarity of this gem is bringing it long-due widespread admiration nowadays.
The Rise Of Paraiba Tourmaline
Today, many people sell their paraiba tourmaline gemstones that they purchased in the late 1980s for many times their original price. From people seeking a perfect gem for their jewelry and gem enthusiasts eyeing unique gems to jewelers and designers looking for their next big rare bird, it seems that everybody is addicted to paraiba tourmalines. The rarity and uniqueness of the gem have even caught the attention of investors. Now that paraiba tourmaline is finally on the verge of becoming one of the most desirable and profitable investments, many are snapping up this gemstone to make substantial profits later.
Colors of Paraiba Tourmaline
What multiplies the popularity of paraiba tourmaline gemstones is their availability in a vast range of colors. Neon blue, greenish blue, blue-green, green, mint green, violet, purple and pink are the many colors in which you can find this pretty gemstone. Now, most of these colors are so pleasing to the eyes that you can’t help but drool over the glow of these gems. For instance, let’s consider the greenish-blue hue for a moment. Taking an up close and personal look at this gemstone will relieve you of all the stress of everyday life. It will imbue your mind with all the repose and stillness of the heavenly Caribbean sea.
Its vibrant color makes it a perfect candidate for both statement jewelry and everyday accessory.
A Must-Have For Everybody
Picture yourself relaxing at a beach, looking at the ocean waves away from all the hurly-burly of your natural routine. You get the idea, right? Paraiba tourmaline is more than just a beautiful gemstone, more like the much-awaited holiday that you’ve been planning all these years. The gem is a must-have for everybody, especially for those who find themselves losing to anxiety and stress every now and then. For the October born, this gemstone becomes a magical talisman as their birthstone and has many astrological benefits. For others, it steps-up their style quotient.
Though paraiba tourmalines look great in each and every color, clear blue stones are on another level. They stand out among all blue gemstones when it comes to brilliance.
A vast variety of satiating colors distinguishes this stunner from other color gems. What’s even more fascinating about paraiba tourmaline stones is their incandescent glow that they exhibit even outside of light. Apart from all the above-stated attributes, paraiba tourmaline stones, don’t disappoint you even in terms of hardness and durability. These two are essential prerequisites for a gemstone to be worthy of fine jewelry such as ring, earrings and pendants.
Hardness & Durability
On the 10-point Mohs scale of hardness, the paraiba tourmaline gemstone scores an impressive 7.5. This is a respectable score on the Mohs scale for a gemstone that had to go through more than decades to catch the imagination of not only indie designers but also people like us. Pity! This hardness score on the Mohs scale has also contributed a lot to the popularity and commerciality of paraiba tourmaline. One of the big reasons for investing in paraiba tourmalines is their resilience to scratches and abrasions. No wonder they look the same even after years of use.
The Saving Grace
Paraiba tourmaline deserves all the attention of the world because of its legendary rarity and availability in so many dulcifying colors. But wait a minute. What do you think would have been the case if paraiba tourmaline didn’t offer a considerable level of hardness and durability? How many people do you think would still be interested in getting this gemstone? You get it, right? So, the hardness and durability of paraiba tourmaline are indeed the gem’s saving grace. Talking about saving grace, when are you getting that holiday? Well, you better get it soon before your friends and family disown you. 🤣
