Pink Tourmaline is the stone of actors, artists, poets, authors and other creative fields. There are pink tourmaline rings, pink tourmaline earrings, pink tourmaline necklaces, and many more. It has been used in African cultures to “awaken from the dream of illusion”. In India it is said to help receive insights and to find out whom or what may be causing an evil act to occur. Alchemists related it to the “Philosopher’s Stone” which was an ancient idea of enlightenment and a tool for turning lead into gold. It is a stone of protection for some Aborigines and Native Americans. In more modern spiritual thought it is a stone of the heart chakra, has similar energy to rose quartz and rhodochrosite, and carries a feminine energy. It is October’s birthstone along with Opal, as well as the stone for the astrological sign of Libra.
Tourmaline is a semi-precious stone; pink tourmaline comes in a range of colors from red, like rubies, magenta, rose pink, pale pink to a shocking pink. It is also called rubellite and the color is strongest in the core of the hexagonal prism, the shape of raw tourmaline. Tourmalines are mined principally in Brazil and Africa, but are also found in Afghanistan, Maine and California.
In jewelry it can be found in the more raw forms, like the prisms it comes in, or cabochons, chips and beads. It is most commonly a cut, faceted gemstone. On the Mohs Hardness Scale it is a 7 to 7.5; the stone needs to be protected from scratches, harsh temperature changes and should not be cleaned in an ultrasonic cleaner.
Many tourmaline gemstones are irradiated, but this usually does not impact the value; irradiated pinks are actually desired by some buyers for their vivid colors. Laboratory created tourmalines are also available, ask which kind are being sold if it isn’t stated.
Pink Tourmalines are cut to maximize the intensity of the color not for size. Look for a nice color, radiating from the center and shifting when the light hits it differently. Pink tourmaline gemstone jewelry is available in gold, silver, platinum and other varieties. Pinks are cut in rounds, squares, triangles and the more natural looking rectangle. The facets optimize the color and light refraction. Do not confuse the redder pink tourmalines for rubies, because they can look very similar.
Most jewelry retailers sell pink tourmaline jewelry; the prices vary widely, depending on the cuts, the metals used and the retailer selling them.
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