Paraiba Tourmaline (2024)

These copper-bearing tourmalines from Mina da Batalha in the Federal Brazilian State of Paraiba are typically small in size and beyond rare and precious. Their intense blue to green colors are unlike those of any other gem material. The exclusiveness of this legendary find from the 1980s makes these tourmalines some of the most sought-after and most expensive colored gemstones in the market today. Coveted by gem connoisseurs around the world, the prices have sky rocketed in recent years. Finding a Brazilian Paraiba tourmaline over a few carats is extremely rare, especially with the extraordinary vividness seen in the “windex” blue or “neon or electric” greenish-blue varieties. The original mines have been depleted, and even though there is speculation that more deposits in the area have been found and will produce new material, it has not happened to date. This pear-shaped gem exhibits a natural deep blue color and was the first tourmaline from Paraiba, Brazil for the National Gem Collection.

Return to GeoGallery

Paraiba Tourmaline (2024)

FAQs

How much is Paraiba tourmaline worth? ›

Quality Paraiba tourmalines range from $2,000 to $50,000 per carat.

Why is Paraíba tourmaline so expensive? ›

This is because they have a higher color saturation, feature attractive hues, and, most importantly, are super rare. The price of the Paraiba tourmaline is not influenced by its size. Rather it depends on the origin, brightness, vividity, and inclination of the stone towards the blue shade.

What color tourmaline is most rare? ›

The rarest Tourmaline is called Paraiba. Along with being the rarest, it is also the most expensive. We only come across great Paraiba one every few years. The easiest way to see if a Tourmaline is Paraiba is by the neon-like blue and green with traces of copper.

How do I know if my tourmaline is Paraiba? ›

Look for the Cut

Brilliant cuts like oval shapes and pearl shapes are common with Paraíba tourmaline. If your gem is not custom cut, chances are you're not looking at a Paraíba.

What is the rarest gem on earth? ›

Named after its discoverer, Arthur C.D. Pain, and not after any kind of suffering, painite is the rarest gemstone mineral in the world. Although more than 1,000 have been found, only a handful are in quality shape. Nonetheless, their rarity makes them valuable.

What is the most expensive color of tourmaline? ›

In the late 1980s, a new colour of tourmaline was discovered in Brazil with bright neon blues and greens, and was named after the region where they were mined; Paraíba. These are now the rarest and most desirable in tourmalines, fetching the highest prices.

Is Paraiba tourmaline a good investment? ›

Known for its electrifying neon blue and green hues, Paraiba Tourmaline's rare properties and increasing scarcity make it a top choice for both high-end jewellery and investment portfolios.

What is the difference between Paraiba and tourmaline? ›

There is blue material on the market now that is being called Paraiba but isn't. A true paraiba tourmaline, whether from Brazil or Africa, must be a cuprian tourmaline. That is, its chemical composition must contain copper. There are tourmalines that are similar in color to a paraiba, but do not contain copper.

Is tourmaline rarer than diamond? ›

There's a powerful reason why this gemstone is the last on our list of color gemstones rarer than diamonds – only one paraiba tourmaline is mined for every 10,000 diamonds. This is one of those rarest gemstones that have only a few mines compared to others that have deposits all over the world.

Which is more valuable Sapphire or tourmaline? ›

Price:High-quality pink sapphires are considered rare and, as a result, tend to be more expensive than pink tourmalines. Prices vary based on factors such as color intensity, clarity, and carat weight.

How much should I pay for tourmaline? ›

Large and clean specimens with a beautiful color change on the average on the world stone market worth $100-400 per carat. Paraiba is the most expensive tourmaline. The cost of the Paraiba, depending on the purity and color saturation is in the range of $1500-30000 per carat.

Which is more valuable emerald or tourmaline? ›

Price: Emeralds are typically more expensive than Green Tourmaline, especially for high-quality stones with a deep, intense green color, good transparency, and minimal inclusions. The most valuable emeralds often come from Colombia, and their prices can be exceptionally high.

Does Paraiba tourmaline fade? ›

Some treated tourmalines may fade if exposed to high heat or very prolonged exposure to intense light. Tourmaline is a hard gemstone that is resistant to both scratching and breaking, but it should be protected from sharp blows or sudden changes in temperature.

Is Paraiba more expensive than diamond? ›

Is paraiba tourmaline more expensive than diamond? Sometimes, but it depends on the diamond. High-quality white diamonds weighing 5 or more carats can reach $68,000 per carat, while high-quality paraiba tourmalines in the same weight category can reach $87,000 per carat.

What month is Paraiba tourmaline birthstone? ›

Paraíba, red, pink, and chrome tourmalines are the most prized October gemstones. But even their individual hues play an essential role in deciding their worth.

Does tourmaline hold value? ›

Tourmaline Value

Only when you get into large sizes or extremely rare or fine colors do prices go over a few hundred dollars per carat. Most colors are fairly common, but pure blue, red, orange, yellow, and purple stones are rare. Such stones usually command higher prices.

How much is Paraiba tourmaline Heart Evangelista? ›

Chafe highlighted the rarity and value of Paraiba tourmalines, emphasizing their vibrant color and high price tags, especially for Brazilian stones. She mentioned that a 3-carat Brazilian Paraiba could cost $450,000, while larger stones like Heart's, estimated to be 5-6 carats, could easily exceed $1 million.

Top Articles
Latest Posts
Article information

Author: Otha Schamberger

Last Updated:

Views: 5592

Rating: 4.4 / 5 (55 voted)

Reviews: 94% of readers found this page helpful

Author information

Name: Otha Schamberger

Birthday: 1999-08-15

Address: Suite 490 606 Hammes Ferry, Carterhaven, IL 62290

Phone: +8557035444877

Job: Forward IT Agent

Hobby: Fishing, Flying, Jewelry making, Digital arts, Sand art, Parkour, tabletop games

Introduction: My name is Otha Schamberger, I am a vast, good, healthy, cheerful, energetic, gorgeous, magnificent person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.