2.20 CTS Tourmaline Rubellite Red Square Cushion Checker Board Cut Natural Loose Gemstone

The Wonderful Gemstone Called Tourmaline

One of the most versatile of gemstones, tourmaline is available in every color, from colorless to black. You can find every tone from pastel to dark, and even with one or more colors appearing in the same stone. It truly is a wondrous and fascinating stone!

Tourmaline is truly a magical mystical gemstone. Tourmaline is a gemstone species that comes naturally in the most colors and nuances of colors, more than any other gemstone, except perhaps diamond. It can even be found with multiple colors in one gemstone. That is hard to top and it makes tourmaline an exceptional gemstone. Like garnet, tourmaline is actually a family of gemstones. And like garnet it has been under appreciated until fairly recently; the definition of recently in this case is the 20th and 21st centuries and even then, it wasn’t until the latter part of the 20th century that tourmaline became a gemstone for more than the gemstone connoisseur or wealthy collector.

History of The Tourmaline Gemstone
Obviously, tourmaline has been hanging around in the earth’s crust for millions of years. There have been references to it for thousands of years dating back to ancient Egypt. Imagine if you will tourmaline gemstones exported from Sri Lanka to the kingdom of King Solomon.  There is some evidence to suggest that happened. There is also some evidence that tourmaline adorned the crown of the Queen of Sheba. The likeness of Alexander the Great has been found carved in tourmaline dating back to around the second or third century B.C. Starting around 1703 tourmaline was imported by Dutch East India Company into Europe.

Clarity Explained

• IF = Loupe Clean - Internally flawless; free of inclusions
• VVS = Almost Loupe Clean - Very, very slight inclusions; inclusions barely seen under 10x magnification
• VS = Eye Clean - Very slight inclusions; inclusions can be seen under 10x magnification
• SI = Slightly included - Small inclusions can be seen with the naked eye
• I1 = Included - Inclusions can be seen with the naked eye
• Transparent = A gemstone having the property of transmitting light without serious diffusion / may have rutile or other inclusions
• Translucent = Allowing light to pass through, but not transparent
• Opaque = Does not allow light to pass through