Tourmaline Beads

Tourmaline is a gemstone that boasts the widest array of vibrant rainbow colors, ranging from warm orange to bright yellow to cool blue and deep black. The unique quality of this pretty stone is that it is usually bi and even tri-colored, and sometimes the stone will be color zoned in specific areas, making it a lot more fun to experiment with the different color combinations. Tourmaline beads are all you need if you want an eye-catching stone to add to your jewelry collection. 

The Basics of Tourmaline Beads 

Tourmaline beads are greatly admired for their mesmerizing beauty and metaphysical healing qualities. Coined from the Singhalese phrase “tura mali," tourmaline refers to "stone mixed with flamboyant colors" since it can be found in a range of shades, colors, and hues, including blue, green, black, brown, and pink. It is easy to find tourmaline beads in multi-colored strands. 

Natural tourmaline beads are widely celebrated for their healing properties since they are believed to prevent negative energies from affecting a person’s body. The stone is also famous for its ability to balance chakras, calm nerves, induce peaceful sleep and regulate hormones. This is done when the stone generates an electric charge and releases infrared rays and negative ions, consequently fighting grief and fear. 

Learn more about Tourmaline Beads

History of Tourmaline

In the 1500s in Brazil, a Spanish conquistador confused a green tourmaline crystal with an emerald. His confusion persisted until scientists identified the stone as a different mineral species in the 1800s. The stone's identity can also be confused by its name, which means "mixed gems." It is a term the Dutch traders used for water-worn, multi-colored pebbles that miners discovered in the gem deposits of Sri Lanka.

Tourmaline has been a gemstone for thousands of years, but due to its wide range of colors, it was mistaken for other stones like sapphire, ruby, emerald, and others until the development of modern mineralogy. One of the earliest discoveries of tourmaline was made in 1892 in California. In the late 1800s, the stone came to be known as an American gem via Tiffany & Co. gemologists, who wrote about the large deposits of the stone in California and Maine and praised them immensely. 

Despite its American roots, tourmaline's largest market was in China. The majority of red and pink tourmalines were shipped from San Diego to China because Tz'u Hsi, the Chinese Empress, had a great love for those hues. There, artisans shaped the tourmaline into bottles and other pieces to be placed in jewelry. The famous tourmaline mines of San Diego include the Tourmaline King, Tourmaline Queen, Himalayas, Pala Chief, and Stewart. The miners had become heavily dependent on the Chinese trade, and with the collapse of the Chinese government in 1912, the tourmaline trade also collapsed. Eventually, the mines in the Himalayas also stopped producing large deposits of the gemstone, and other mines in San Diego County, such as the Stewart Lithia mine at Pala, still produce infrequent supplies of high-quality tourmaline. 

The supply of tourmaline started expanding in the first half of the 20th century when large deposits were found in Brazil. These discoveries in the 1980s and 1990s rekindled worldwide interest in this stone since material obtained from Paraiba demonstrated such eye-catching neon greens, vivid purples, and radiant blues. The region of Paraiba has produced the world’s most high-quality and expensive specimens of tourmaline, which include the world's heaviest stone (191.87 carats). In the 1950s, more gemstones were found in different parts of the world, including Afghanistan and Madagascar. Although tourmaline is mined worldwide, it is challenging to find premium-quality tourmaline in vivid colors. 

Tourmaline Crystal Formation & Cuts 

Tourmaline is a rather unusual gemstone in its formation since it resembles almost as if it is composed of thousands of hair-like filaments stuck together and forming a cylinder. These crystals grow in water-rich environments, where they absorb their surrounding elements. For instance, the tourmaline will be green if the surrounding element is copper. Due to the presence of long strands in the gemstone, artisans often carve it in the same direction as the crystal. For this reason, it is common to find elongated cuts in tourmaline, such as ovals and emeralds. The main kinds of tourmaline species include elbaite, uvite, schorl, dravite, and liddicoatite. 

Most tourmaline gemstones are elbaites, packed with lithium, sodium, aluminum, and rarely, copper. They form in granite-containing pegmatites, which are essentially igneous rocks. They are sometimes rich in exotic components that are very important for creating gem minerals. Pegmatites may sometimes contain very big crystals, going up to around 3 feet in length. Due to the nature of these rocks, various gem pockets inside a single pegmatite body can hold different colored tourmaline crystals. On the other hand, a single pocket can produce a range of multi-colored tourmalines. Due to this procedure, numerous mines produce a range of tourmaline colors.

Another key quality of gem pegmatites is their uneven distribution of pockets. For miners, working with a pegmatite usually involves digging barren rocks until they discover a rich pocket of stunning gem crystals. Elbaites provide the most diverse range of gem quality, ranging from yellow or blue, red to pink, colorless, or a combination of colors. 

Liddicoatite is a mineral rich in lithium, calcium, and aluminum. It also stems from granite-containing pegmatites and provides a wide range of colors, usually in complex patterns. On the other hand, uvite is rich in magnesium, calcium, and aluminum. Dravite is packed with magnesium, sodium, and aluminum. Both are formed in limestone that has been changed due to pressure and heat, resulting in marble with by-minerals, such as tourmaline. 

Some of the most fundamental tourmalines are a combination of uveite and dravite. They are typically yellowish brown, brown, black, or reddish brown, but sometimes contain hints of chromium, vanadium, or both. When present in the right quantities, these impurities result in deep green shades unparalleled to emerald and tsavorite garnet. Jewelers sell these gemstones as "chrome tourmaline," although they are not always dyed with chromium. 

Schorl is usually rich in iron, which gives it its black color. The different colors of tourmaline have different reasons behind them. 

It is generally agreed that hints of iron and sometimes titanium result in blue and green colors. Manganese sometimes produces pinks, reds, and even yellows. Some yellow and pink elbaites might get their color from radiation, which can be either natural or artificially induced in a laboratory. 

Types of Tourmalines 

There are different types of tourmaline gemstones, meaning there are many tourmaline beads to choose from. These include:

Black Tourmaline Beads – Natural black tourmaline beads are the most popular and widely available option due to their aesthetical appeal and healing properties. These beads come in a shade range of deep black to brownish black and are known as grounding and protective stones. 

Green Tourmaline Beads – Green tourmaline is used to heal physical illnesses and mental health issues. Due to its resemblance with emeralds, green tourmaline is also referred to as Brazilian Emerald and Verdilite. The gemstone is associated with the planet Mercury or Planet Budh and is known to provide relief from the harmful effects of malefic Mercury. This stone is also known to attract prosperity, improve relationships and bring other benefits. 

Pink Tourmaline Beads – Also called Rubellite, pink tourmaline is hailed for its healing qualities, especially for the heart. It also brings unconditional love and compassion and helps the wearer release unwanted emotions. Brazil is one of the countries that produce premium-quality pink tourmaline. 

Light Blue Tourmaline Beads – Also referred to as Indicolite, light blue Tourmaline ranges from light blue to greenish blue and is one of the rarest forms of Tourmalines. The stone endows the wearer by clearing communication problems and helping them seek clarity and eloquence.

Watermelon Tourmaline Beads – Due to its mesmeric color scheme, watermelon tourmaline resembles the juicy fruit watermelon. The stone is pink in the center, and the colors spread to Green and Colorless on the outside. The beads of this gemstone are known to bring self-love and confidence and spark a feeling of adventure. USA, Afghanistan, Nigeria, Madagascar, and Brazil produce this high-quality gemstone. 

Brown Tourmaline Beads – Also called Dravite, brown tourmaline beads are found in deep brown to dark yellow shade ranges. The stone possesses excellent grounding qualities and channels our energies while providing stamina and protection. 

Purple Tourmaline Beads– With their lustrous color, purple tourmaline beads are known to improve intuitive powers and creativity while giving a sense of freedom. Purple tourmaline is also called Siberite and makes an excellent addition to any jewelry piece.

Rainbow Tourmaline Beads – Rainbow tourmaline offers a pack of stunning rainbow colors, sure to become the center of attention at any gathering. The gemstone is known to alleviate stress, induce feelings of calmness, and relieve neuralgia and migraines, amongst other health issues.   

What are Tourmaline Uses?

Whether you wear tourmaline beads as a jewelry piece or keep the gemstone on your bedside table for prosperity, there are many ways to use them. 

Home and Office 

If you believe in the healing properties of crystals and gemstones and want to protect your place from negative energies, you should turn to raw black tourmaline beads. This Gemstone Beads are ideal for putting at entrances, or any other space you feel needs to be kept safe and sacred. Green tourmaline can be the ideal option for prosperity and abundance as it promotes a healthier mindset. If you are trying to make your bedroom or office a cozy space with a personalized touch, we recommend adding pink tourmaline beads, which are known to bring in love and compassion. 

Jewelry 

One of the most effective ways to benefit from the healing properties of tourmaline is to wear it as jewelry. Whether it is a bracelet made of large tourmaline beads for protection or a pink tourmaline necklace to find love, the best thing about tourmaline jewelry is its capacity to balance your body’s energy and keep your vibrations in check. Direct contact with the skin is perhaps the most powerful way to truly absorb the goodness of your crystals since there is no wall between you and the vibrations radiating from the gemstone. 

Tourmaline Beads – Frequently Asked Questions 

What is Tourmaline Stone Good For?

Tourmaline is an excellent gemstone for balancing the yin and yang energies, such as the masculine and feminine energies within ourselves. It helps create a shield around a room or person to prevent any unwelcome or negative energy from entering. It also helps with grounding, balances all the chakras, brings in a sense of peace, and alleviates signs of distress. 

Is Tourmaline a Crystal or Gemstone?

Tourmaline is regarded as a gemstone and comes in various colors and types. It is a crystalline boron silicate mineral with components like iron, aluminum, sodium, potassium, or lithium. It is extremely durable, hard, and quite suited for jewelry, especially tourmaline beads. Tourmaline is categorized as a semi-precious gemstone, and its price varies depending on the color and quality. 

Is Tourmaline an Expensive Gem?

Tourmaline can be an expensive or affordable gemstone, depending on the color you buy. The most valuable variety of this stone is the very rare Paraiba tourmaline, which can be priced at $10,000 or more per carat, depending on the color saturation and size. Smaller and yellower shades of tourmaline may only come with a price tag of $50 or more per carat. Similar to the color range, tourmaline prices vary depending on their uniqueness and country of origin. 

How can you tell if the Tourmaline is genuine?

Tourmaline is a naturally abundant gemstone that is available in a range of colors. For this reason, it is typically not manufactured in a lab. However, some sellers might still try to sell tourmaline quartz beads in their name. Knowing the key differences between real and fake tourmaline is very important before purchasing. Remember that tourmalines are very resistant and hard stones that cannot be easily scratched. So, steer clear if you find one with scratches or too many imperfections. It is still important to note that all gemstones are formed through a natural process, which means they are rarely perfect and will have some inclusions. Therefore, if you come across a tourmaline stone that looks utterly perfect and blemish-free, chances are that it’s not real. If you buy round tourmaline beads, you will notice that the stone will change color when viewed from different angles and under artificial light. A lot of pink tourmalines have a hint of a brown undertone, so make sure to look for that when examining it.   

Is Tourmaline a Lucky Stone?

Tourmaline is a lucky stone believed to possess incredible healing powers, such as those of health, prosperity, luck, and much more. According to Feng Shui, this gemstone is used for its energetic qualities that can help create a protective layer around an individual to prevent them from the evil presence and bad energy. It is also the stone of compassion and reconciliation, and it radiates energy that attracts friendship, healing, and money.  

What Does a Tourmaline Symbolize?

Tourmaline symbolizes voice, wisdom, creativity, and insight. It is also believed to enhance its wearer's creative juices and help them communicate more clearly and effectively. For example, pink tourmaline represents love for humanity and humanitarianism and is worn to promote sympathy for others. It is ideal for therapists, healers, and counselors since it allows them to be better listeners and communicate better with their patients. It also carries the virtues of friendship and unconditional love. Tourmaline also brings healing powers to a medicine man or shaman. It is called a receptive stone, which means it is calming, magnetic, inward, and soothing. It promotes peace and is an ideal addition to the wearer’s spiritual practices and meditation routine.   

What Color of Tourmaline is the Best?

Pure and bright tones of blue, red, and green are considered the best tones of tourmaline. 

Is Tourmaline more Rare than Diamond?

Not all types of tourmaline are rarer than diamonds. However, the Paraiba tourmaline originates from the Brazilian state of Paraiba and is more expensive than a diamond. They are some of the rarest gemstones in the world, and the blue Paraiba tourmaline only makes its way into the finest and most extraordinary jewelry pieces. 

Named after its place of origin, the Paraiba is a beautiful gem known for its neon blue color with hints of copper. In simpler words, it is 10,000 times more valuable and rare than a diamond.  

Are Tourmaline Beads Safe for Skin?

Tourmaline beads are perfectly safe for the skin. Recent skincare products have started incorporating this crystal into the formula due to its energizing and revitalizing properties. Beauty experts say that tourmaline-infused beauty products can help the skin look refreshed and add an overall radiant glow.

What Does Tourmaline Attract?

Tourmaline is a powerful stone known for many healing qualities, such as balancing chakras, shedding negative energy, and bringing feelings of prosperity. In addition, it is known for attracting money and prosperity and helping with communication and maintaining relationships. 

Does Tourmaline Glow in the Dark?

The neon and electric glow of the Paraiba tourmaline can make it glow in the dark. 

What is the Best Cut for Tourmaline?

Rectangular and rectangular emerald cuts are the most sought-after in a tourmaline stone.

What Color is Natural Tourmaline?

Tourmaline naturally comes in a range of colors with different hues. Iron-rich tourmalines are typically black, deep brown, or bluish-black, while magnesium-rich varieties are yellow to brown. Finally, lithium-rich tourmalines come in almost any color, including red, green, blue, pink, etc. The most expensive and rarest tourmaline color is neon blue with hints of copper. 

How Strong is Tourmaline?

Tourmalines have a hardness rating of 7 to 7.5 on the Moh’s scale, making them quite sturdy and resistant to scratches. Due to this, the gemstone has no cleavages and is highly durable. 

How do you Take Care of Tourmaline Beads?

Despite its strength, it is best to maintain the tourmaline beads properly by preventing them from extreme heat and cleaning them with soapy water periodically.

Can you wear Tourmaline in the Shower?

Tourmaline has an overall hardness rating of 7 to 7.5 on Moh’s scale, making it a highly durable and resistant gemstone for everyday wear, even while in the shower. Tourmaline is typically safe for wear and is not affected by light, chemicals, or water. However, it can be damaged by heat and a sudden drop in temperature. If you shower with extremely hot water, you should take off your tourmaline beads or other jewelry before hopping in the bathroom. 

Is Tourmaline Good for Luck?

Tourmaline is one of the gemstones associated with good luck, financial stability, and overall abundance.  

Where Can I find the Best Tourmaline Beads for Sale Online?

You can buy different tourmaline beads, including tourmaline nuggets and round beads, at Beads of Cambay for premium-quality products, excellent customer service, and a diverse selection. 

Can I buy Tourmaline Beads Wholesale from Beads of Cambay?

Buying tourmaline beads wholesale from Beads of Cambay is a very affordable and simple process to support your jewelry-making business. You can find a variety of high-quality stones to choose from in different shapes, sizes, colors, and styles.