Posted on May 07 2019
This gem comes in a rainbow of hues, pink (the accepted color to represent October's birthstone), blue, high-end reds, and greens adorn the showrooms of designer jewelers.  The breadth of this gem’s color range is unrivalled. Some history on tourmaline points to a Spanish conquistador who washed dirt from a green tourmaline crystal and confused the vibrant green gem with emerald. His confusion lived on until scientists recognized tourmaline as a distinct mineral species in the 1800s. Some rare species demonstrate stunning neon colors, such as a copper bearing tourmaline-Paraiba (trade name) pictured above.
The name tourmaline comes from the Sinhalese (Sri Lanka) word turomalli which translates as, the stone of mixed colors. It’s a term Dutch merchants applied to the multicolored, water-worn pebbles that miners found in the gem gravels of Ceylon (now Sri Lanka).
Ancient legend says that tourmaline is found in all colors because it traveled along a rainbow and gathered all the rainbow’s colors. Tourmaline is believed to strengthen the body and spirit, especially the nervous system, blood, and lymphs. It is also though to inspire creativity and was used extensively as a talisman by artists and writers. Some reference books state that tourmaline’s energy is believed by some healers to be best suited to males. Green tourmaline is believed to stimulate use in financial affairs.
