Interesting Facts About Tourmalines You May Not Know
When you are a gemstone lover and looking for something a little different, you may want to consider buying tourmaline jewellery. These beautiful gems are available in a wide array of colours, and they are perfect for making gorgeous jewellery. There are many fascinating facts about these gemstones that you may not know, and some of the more interesting ones are below.
Where They Get Their Name?
The tourmalines get their name from the Sinhalese language from Sri Lanka, and scholars believe it has its roots in the word ‘Tourmali’. When translated into English from Sinhalese, it translates as ‘precious mixed-colour gem’.
A Stunning Selection Of Colours Available
As the Sinhalese name suggests, you can get tourmalines in a wide variety of colours, so there is something suitable for all tastes. Some of the most common colours you can get include:
- Colourless
- Blue
- Pink
- Red
- Yellow
- Brown
- Black
- Green
These beautiful gemstones also have the quality of appearing to change colour. It all depends on how they are viewed in the light, which attracts many people to these fantastic gems. Change the angle you look at the gemstone while holding it to the light, and you will see the colours shift before your eyes. Tourmalines also have the widest variety of colours available of all gemstones, so it means there is plenty of choice of colours available.
They Have Pyroelectric Properties
Another feature of tourmaline that not many people know is they have pyroelectric properties. These beautiful gemstones have electric fields as they are naturally electrically polarised. They can attract dust and dirt, and they have been called the “Sri Lankan magnet” and were once used for cleaning pipes. Because of this, you will need to clean your tourmaline jewellery more often than you need to do other types of gemstones. You can boost the electric charge of your tourmaline by heating it up or rubbing it.
It Is The Birth Stone Of October
Two gemstones have been designated as the birthstones of October, with the tourmaline being one and the other being opal. If you consider getting a tourmaline to represent your birth month, the most common colour is pink. However, you can choose to get any colour of tourmaline you want to represent your birthstone.
The Cost Of Tourmaline
The tourmaline price per carat will depend on the cut, colour, and quality of the gem and the location it is sourced. The rarity of the colour will also help dictate the price, and the most valuable type of tourmaline is the Paraiba tourmaline, which has an electric blue-green hue to it and is found in Brazil.
The Hardness Of Tourmaline
As well as having plenty of variety of colours, tourmalines are also a relatively hard gemstone. They score between 7-7.5 on the Mohs scale, so they are suitable for the jewellery you wear every day. However, as mentioned previously, you will need to clean them more regularly than other gemstones as they have an electric charge which attracts dirt and dust.
These are a few of the many interesting facts about tourmalines that may interest you and make you want to buy one. They are ideal for jewellery and with so many colours available, there is something to suit all tastes and budgets.
