Although tourmaline, the alternate birthstone for October, was probably known to the ancients and must have been present in many of the Oriental mines yielding precious stones, there are no definitive descriptions of the gem by early writers. During the seventeenth century, dark green tourmaline crystals shipped to Europe from Brazil were called Brazilian emeralds and incorrectly credited with a hardness greater than that of true emeralds. However, early in the eighteenth century it was discovered that these crystals had a unique property. One warm summer day, while some Dutch children were playing with stones that had been brought home by navigators, they were amazed to see that the stones attracted small bits of ash and pieces of paper. The children's parents, summoned to view the phenomenon, were astounded at the magnetic properties of these stones, which were later given the name, aschentrckers, meaning "ash drawers." The word tourmaline however is derived from the ancient Singhalese word tormall, meaning "mixed precious stones." The tourmaline is a complex silicate combined with various metallic elements; since each contributes a different color, the observer is often confused into believing the gem is a ruby, emerald or sapphire. The most valuable variety of tourmaline is red to purplish-red to violet-red. it comes in an infinite variety of hues and tones. Most common are green and light red tourmalines, but others are dual-colored stones in blue, yellow and pink, brown and black. Some stones show several colors; they may be one color at the base, another at the center and a third near the apex. In others, the interior portion will be one color and the peripheral zone another. When the central portion is pink and the periphery green, the resulting combination is called a "watermelon" tourmaline. Cat's-eye tourmalines also are found in a variety of colors. Brazil is still the most important source of tourmaline, but recently California has become a significant producer. Other sources include Madagascar, Maine, Sri Lanka, Burma and Russia. Tourmaline may be cut into any style, including step, brilliant, mixed and cabochon. It is often carved into flowers, leaves and similar forms and set in jewelry with diamonds and other colored stones.
Home
