Tourmaline derives from the Sinhalese term "turamali", which translates as "stone of mixed colors". The very name refers to the unique spectrum of colors displayed by this gemstone, which is second to none in the realm of
precious stones. One of the most versatile of gemstones, tourmaline is available in every color, from colorless to black. It can show every tone from pastel to dark, and can exhibit various colors in the same stone.
The many different colors of tourmaline mean that this stone can easily be mistaken for just about any other gemstone. Many stones in the Russian Crown Jewels from the 17th century once thought to be
rubies are actually tourmalines. Another unique characteristic of tourmaline is that it can be electrically charged by heating and cooling, or applying pressure by rubbing the stone. The Dutch, who imported tourmaline in the early 17th century from Sri Lanka, discovered that specialty and used it to pull the ash out of their meerschaum tobacco pipes. They nicknamed tourmaline "aschentrekker" or "ash puller".
Tourmaline is of high clarity, has very few inclusions and is quite durable (rating of 7-7.5 on the
Mohs hardness scale), all of which make tourmaline a very attractive buy. Large sizes are affordable as well.
Round tourmaline gems are available in singles, matched pairs and gem lots. Round tourmaline stones are perfect for any jewelry design, whether they are used as center stones or accent stones. Choose from various round tourmaline gems in calibrated sizes. Use the search filters at the top of the page to find the perfect round tourmaline gems by size, carat weight, price or origin. The tick boxes will direct you to singles, pairs, lots, faceted gems or cabs.