Color:
All colors

Durability:
Excellent

Localities:
Brazil and the United States

Tourmaline

Tourmaline is an extremely complex borosilicate that occurs in more than 100 colors. It is hard and durable and very well suited for jewelry. It is a pyroelectric mineral, meaning that when warmed, it attracts dust and other lightweight particles. It wasn't introduced into Europe until the early 1700's, when it was imported from the east. Shortly thereafter it was declared a stone of the Muses, inspiring and enriching the creative processes. It was a talisman for artists, actors and writers. Today,it is mined extensively in South America, East Africa and in Southern California.