PARAIBA TOURMALINE JEWELLERY

Paraíba tourmaline’s fairly recent discovery has bestowed the gemstone with an almost mythical quality, which has proved irresistible for jewellery connoisseurs. It seems astonishing that this striking jewel lay undiscovered until the 1980s, concealed within a hill in the rugged inland Brazilian state from which it takes its name.

In explorations to unearth more of this magical jewel precious little was found, making Paraíba tourmaline stones extremely hard to come by, particularly gems of a significant size and high quality.

Paraíba tourmaline stones were first found in the rural Brazilian village of São José da Batalha, followed by two subsequent discoveries in neighbouring Rio Grande do Norte. These sources have now yielded all of their jewels, which has seen the value of Brazilian Paraíba tourmaline increase significantly.

Though tourmalines of a similar colour began to emerge in the early 2000s from Nigeria and Mozambique, to many collectors the vivid turquoise flash of an authentic, Brazilian Paraíba tourmaline is incomparable.

As with any coloured gemstone, provenance is an inherent factor in a Paraíba tourmaline stone value. Gemstones of a similar colour and composition to Paraíba tourmaline, but not actually mined in the region of Paraíba, are therefore not authentic Brazilian Paraíba tourmaline and will not command the same value. Gaining a certificate of the stone’s origin and other details is very important to ensure its authenticity.

In recent years David Morris has created some truly spectacular pieces using Brazilian Paraíba tourmaline stones, and the gemstone has become a signature of the house’s High Jewellery collections.

Due to its uniqueness of colour and scarcity of supply, collectors are increasingly approaching the house for designs that feature Paraíba tourmaline, and it remains one of the most sought-after gemstones in the world today.