Paraiba Tourmaline

The Discovery

In the 1980’s a man named Heitor Barbosa spent years digging in the hills of Brazil in Paraiba. Using only hand tools and candlelight, Barbosa was convinced there was something special hiding in an old dilapidated mine. Ignoring dubious contemporaries, he continued to dig for years with nothing to show for his efforts. Then in 1989 Barbosa found the first ever recorded Paraiba Tourmaline. A stone unparalleled in electric colour and vibrance that appears to light up from within.

Paraiba Tourmalines have since become one of the most sought-after gemstones on the market with their neon blue green colour creating an effect like no other gemstone.

“I always thought my intuition guided me to find the gemstones, but today it has been proven to me that gemstones actually called upon my intuition” Mr. Heitor Dimas Barbosa

What Makes Paraiba tourmalines unique?

Tourmalines come in an array of colours, but none portray the vivid intensity like a Paraiba. Researchers determined that these elbaite tourmalines receive their intense colouration from traces of copper interacting with manganese. From turquoise to the majestic blue-green of the ocean, its incandescent glow is what truly makes Paraiba’s such a unique stone.  

For Paraiba’s, colour is deemed more important than clarity, with most stones having eye visible inclusions, its colour saturation outranks all other grading factors. These stones typically occur in small veins, so they must be carefully removed by hand to avoid damage. The rough must then be hand cut to obtain maximum brilliance and value.

The entire world production of Paraiba tourmaline is estimated to be about .03% that of a Diamond, leading to Paraiba’s commanding a higher price by weight than diamonds

Care

Like other Tourmalines, the Paraiba requires special care when cleaning as they score a 7-7.5 on the Mohs scale. This means avoiding an ultrasonic as the heat and vibrations may damage your stone.

Instead use warm soapy water and a soft brush to clean your piece and only take it into specialised jewellers who will care for your stone appropriately.

Fall in Love

Paraiba – the word rolls off the tongue with enough exotic air to leave you filled with intrigue. Captivating gemstone lovers from around the world and it’s not hard to see why. The tale of discovery of this gemstone only enhances the magic surrounding its origin. A stone that has earned its place within selections of nobility, designers and collectors alike, considered to be one of Earth’s most scarce gemstones.

Anthonys Fine Jewellery

Our lead designer, Rick Jobson, has been working hard on creating a Paraiba Collection exclusive to Anthonys. Visit our website to discover our Paraiba Tourmaline Collection.