Tourmaline stones have always been loved for their wide selection of colors from Pink to Green Tourmaline. Tourmaline is one of the most common gemstone found on earth. Now the recent Congo Tourmaline has created a huge boom in the demand for Pastel color tourmalines.
Blue tourmaline from Congo are the hottest gem and the fine cut gemstones shine very well. Designers love these colors and the gems create stunning jewelry pieces.
Why are they Popular?
These Tourmaline have a special glow which is sometime is referred to as neon glow. The glow effect when seen in Sunlight creates a beautiful effect making them needed.
Tourmaline Care
Even experienced gem cutters find it a challenge with rough tourmaline crystals. Multi-colored gemstones are often weak at the point where the color meet, but every variety may have stressed zones. Once the tourmaline rough is cut and set, it makes for durable jewelry.
It has a Mohs hardness of 7 to 7.5, meaning it can resist scratches from everyday hazards, including household dust. This means anyone can wear a tourmaline gem for any occasion. Because of their electric conducting properties, tourmalines will attract more dust than other non-conductive gems, therefore their hardness is a point to their advantage. But this tendency to attract more dust also means they will need more frequent cleaning.
Because most tourmalines have several inclusions, you must avoid ultrasonic cleaning or using steam devices to avoid change in the gemstone. The vibrations and heat can cause liquid inclusions to expand and shatter the stone. The best way to clean your gemstone is with a soft brush, and warm soapy water, using a mild detergent.
Common Enhancement on Tourmaline
Tourmaline gemstones are commonly enhanced to make them look prettier. Some of the common treatments are
- Heat Treatment
- Irradation
- Acid Treatment
- Clarity Enhancement
- Dying & Coating
Dying, Coating & Clarity Enhancement are not accepted in trade, whereas the other 4 treatments are widely accepted.
Disclaimer: This information has been collected through secondary research and TJM Media Pvt Ltd. is not responsible for any errors in the same.
