How do you know if a Paraiba tourmaline is real?
How do you know if a Paraiba tourmaline is real?
Look for a turquoise color with flashes of green. Paraiba tourmalines get their brilliant aqua color from copper, which also creates greenish flashes within a faceted stone when it is exposed to bright light. This is one of the best ways for a non-expert to identify the possibility that a stone is a Paraiba tourmaline.
How much is a Paraiba tourmaline worth?
Tourmaline Prices The most expensive variety of Tourmaline – the beautiful, rare Paraiba Tourmaline can fetch $10,000 per carat and upwards depending on size and color saturation whilst smaller yellows may only command $50 per carat. The spectrum of prices is as wide as the color range in this amazing gem type.
What is Cuprian tourmaline?
Cuprian Tourmaline is a variety of Tourmaline that has Copper as its trace element. This element of copper is responsible for the color. Many people are familiar with the highly sought Paraiba Tourmaline which is a vivid blue, green or purple-to-violet copper bearing Tourmaline from the state of Brazil.
What is the best color of Paraiba tourmaline?
Scientists speculate that the native copper inclusions took shape in the early stages of cooling, after the gems started to crystallize. Paraíba tourmalines appear in a range of greenish blue, bluish green, green, blue, and violet hues. Although buyers covet all these colors, blue and violet have the most appeal.
Is Paraiba tourmaline still being mined?
Since the initial discovery of this copper-bearing tourmaline in 1982, production has been sporadic and has not kept up with the strong market demand. Mining currently takes place at the original discovery—the Mina da Batalha—and at adjacent workings near São José da Batalha in Paraíba State.
Does Paraiba tourmaline glow in the dark?
What makes Paraiba tourmalines unique? Almost every shade of tourmaline can be found in Brazil, but none has the vivid glow that distinguishes the Paraiba tourmaline, also known as cuprian elbaite.