No other colored gem has experienced such a steep rise as the Paraiba tourmaline over the past thirty years. Since its discovery in the late 1980s, the characteristic turquoise-colored tourmaline has really advanced to the top class of colored gemstones. The reason for the overwhelming popularity of this tourmaline is its extraordinary, neon blue color. The intensely shining turquoise color is also called swimming pool blue or neon blue. The Paraiba tourmaline owes this special color to the coloring elements copper and manganese. Only if the blue, blue-green or green color of a tourmaline can be traced back to the element copper, it may use the variety name “Paraiba tourmaline” in the trade. The color spectrum of the Paraiba tourmalines ranges from intense blue to neon blue tones to blue-green turquoise tones to bright green.
The name of the stone comes from its place of discovery in the Brazilian state of Paraiba (see picture above).
It is said to have been discovered there in the 1980s and has been officially available in stores since 1987. Due to its fascinating luminosity, it quickly became the most popular and expensive type of tourmaline ever discovered. The price development over the past thirty years has been huge.
The Paraiba tourmaline has therefore been one of the most popular colored gemstones in the world for twenty years. He has joined the ranks of the large colored gemstones of ruby, sapphire and emerald for a while now. Even today, the legendary Paraiba tourmalines from the Brazilian state of Paraiba are the most desirable and expensive. However, the deposits from Brazil have long been exhausted. In 2001 blue-green tourmalines containing copper and manganese were discovered in Nigeria, and Mozambique was added in 2005. Almost all Paraiba tourmalines available on the market now come from Africa, no longer from Brazil. But the African deposits also prove to be limited.
In terms of color, the African Paraiba tourmalines are often a little less intense than the Brazilian ones. However, particularly in Mozambique, special intermediate colors are brought to light, such as intense grass-green or neon-yellow-green Paraiba tourmalines.
It is interesting to know that the origin of Paraiba tourmalines plays a role in the price; something like you know from rubies. Brazilian Paraiba tourmalines fetch top prices in the trade. However, green and blue African tourmalines may also be called “Paraiba” due to the same chemical composition if the color is due to the element copper.
For centuries, the traditional treatment technique of heating at low temperatures to improve color has been used in gemstone processing. This often also applies to the Paraiba tourmalines. Careful heating changes the color from purple to blue.
Nowadays, the intensely colored Paraiba tourmalines are real treasures, which are not only impressive gemstones, but also a portable investment. Paraiba tourmalines are the outperformers among the colored gemstones. Thus, larger specimens of excellent quality are traded as investment stones. But overall, the prices for this gemstone are also rising steadily. The uninterrupted fascination for this stone is a phenomenon by itself, but interestingly also understandable for almost everyone. Paraiba tourmalines always cause a storm of enthusiasm.
Some Paraiba tourmalines are offered in the online shop. If you have special requests, you can contact us directly (+ 49 6781 450 4525 or info@gemhype.com).