Tourmaline's natural beauty inspires jewelers and designers. The varied colors of this fine stone adorn great sacred objects. Discover here the origins, beliefs and virtues that have surrounded Tourmaline for centuries.
A little over 2300 years ago, an eminent philosopher had a special fascination for precious stones, their characteristics and powers. Theophrastus was the first to decide to record all his research and theories on minerals. He knew and appreciated the most beautiful precious stones and gems that have occupied a very important place in the history of humanity and its main characters.
Teofrasto was also interested in Tourmaline, which surprised him even more, because one day he was able to observe that this crystal attracted straw, ashes or small pieces of wood if it was heated, thus revealing its pyroelectric characteristic. It is thanks to this that the Dutch named it in the 18th century: "asshentrekker" (ash band).
Its official discovery dates back to 1400 BC, in a town known today as Zschorlau, in Germany, from which it takes its name "Schorl". This town had a tin mine in its vicinity, where not only Cassiterite, but also black Tourmaline stone could be found.
It was first called Schürl until the year 1600. It is said that the great magicians of antiquity invoked this gem to protect themselves from demons escaping to Earth. It is undoubtedly these ancient legends that make it still present today, so inescapable and so renowned in the world of protection against the evil entities evolving on earth.
It was long believed that the stone of the Kaaba was made of Tourmaline. But it seems that it is in fact an Obsidian, although no scientific study is able to confirm it, since the analysis of the Kaaba is not free.
In eighteenth century literature, writer Barbara Walker cites references that this stone was beneficial to artists, authors, actors and designers.
In the same century, a Dutch scientist claimed that a Tourmaline stone wrapped in silk and placed against the cheek of a feverish child would induce sleep.
India also revered this gem. It was used as a tool for information and help in discovering what was good and positive and also what was not, in order to be ever vigilant. Tourmalines were also used to reveal the cause of difficulties or dysfunctions.
The gem was also highly prized by alchemists who, perhaps because of its pyroelectric effect, considered it to be related to the philosopher's stone. They believed that it was this stone that would confer enlightenment, give power over spiritual matters, unite opposites and transmute base metals into pure gold.
Even today, this mineral is used by African, Native American and Australian aboriginal tribes as a protective talisman, guarding against all dangers. They wear the mineral tourmaline as a necklace, bracelet or pendant. Namely, watermelon tourmaline is also widely used as a talisman.
Today in a more general way, tourmaline stones (multicolored) are used a lot in the world of jewelry, mainly when they are of good quality for the manufacture of jewelry.
Large quantities are cut into cabochons for mounting on rings, earrings and pendants (this can be a rough stone pendant or a rolled stone pendant, for example). Another part is cut into rolled stones, pebbles, flat stones for mineral dealers.
And finally the third part is used to design pearl bracelets, pearl necklaces, or even pearl threads so that everyone can make their own. Some blocks of tourmaline are also cut by lapidaries for specific purposes: unique pieces, collector's items, even artistic pieces.
This is often the case with watermelon tourmaline or pink tourmaline, which are among the most beautiful of all, and opinions are unanimous on the subject.
The origin of the family of this mineral is magmatic in granite and pegmatite; hydrothermal in grisene, quartz veins and metalliferous; metamorphic in migmatite, gneiss and mica schist. Its crystal system is rhombohedral.
Tourmaline stones are usually associated with Muscovite, Quartz and Albite, it is not uncommon to find these gems in proximity to rock crystal, or even to be embedded in rock crystal, such as quartz with tourmaline inclusions.
Perfect crystals exist in many pegmatite sites. They occur as long prismatic crystals measuring up to 5 meters at the Arendal site in Norway.
Perfect crystals are also found at Kaatiala in Finland, Dolni Bory in the Czech Republic and Coselheira Pena and Galileia in Brazil.
Like a diamond, this gem has certain characteristics that make it not only found in jewelry. Its pyroelectric faculties, for example, cause the accumulation of opposite electric charges at its ends when it is heated.
It can be used to attract dust or small pieces of paper, for example. It is therefore used in certain equipment to eliminate static electricity. These stones are distinguished by their vitreous brilliance and a wide variety of colors, it is regularly found in multicolored bracelet.
The pinkish tones of some of them present in several deposits are the consequence of a constant natural irradiation. During their formation, these minerals incorporate manganese (Mn2+), whereas they are originally very pale in color.
Their granitic environment causes them to be exposed to natural gamma rays due to the decay of radioactive potassium (40K). This reaction causes the gradual formation of manganese (Mn3+), the ions that carry the pink to red colors.
Insoluble in acids, they develop hexagonal prismatic crystals with alternating broad and narrow faces, forming a rather triangular section. According to Strunz's classification, Tourmalines form a group noted 9.CK.05: they are silicates (9), more exactly cyclosilicates (9.C) comprising six-membered rings (Si6O18) with complex island anions (9.CK).
According to the classification of Dana (American geologist and mineralogist), they are classified in several groups according to their composition: they all belong to the cyclosilicates containing six-membered rings (Si6O18), in which silicon can be replaced by aluminum and may contain OH hydroxyls (designated 61).
A distinction is made between those which are deficient in alkaline metals (category 61.03a) and those whose content of calcium (category 61.03b), lithium (category 61.03d), sodium (category 61.03e) and iron (category 61.03c) is more important. In fact, the name "Tourmaline" includes many minerals of the silicate family.
In its natural state, the stone often appears in the form of rods. It is common to find small cracks, sometimes wavy, but also perpendicular. Its section is shaped like a triangle with curved sides. Etymologically, the stones "Tourmaline" derives from Sinhalese, the language spoken in Sri Lanka, "thuramali", literally: the stones of a thousand colors.
The family of this mineral offers different all-natural grades, ranging from E to AAA. Opinions may differ from country to country, but overall, everyone is unanimous about the quality of tourmaline, whatever form it takes in jewelry: bracelets, necklaces, pendants, earrings, or even mounted on a cabochon ring.
Tourmaline is found in a large number of deposits in Afghanistan, Angola, Australia, Burma, Brazil, the United States, India, Madagascar, Mozambique, Rhodesia, Russia, Sri Lanka, Tanzania and Thailand.
It should be noted that the most beautiful tourmalines, especially those used in jewelry (earring cabochon, ring cabochon, bracelet beads, etc.), come mainly from Madagascar.
A very large stock of these stones is exported from Madagascar to the whole world. There are many tourmalines: pink and yellow essentially.
Among its many benefits, the tourmaline gem has the ability to absorb all vibrations and negative energies. It is the gem of quality par excellence to absorb electromagnetic and negative waves. Traditionally, it is advisable to place a sphere in a room, or a black tourmaline pyramid in a room or an environment / place to be protected.
The tourmaline is very often exposed near a computer, or next to the telephone, or a room that receives electrostatic or electromagnetic waves. On the psychological level, tourmalines are excellent allies for those who practice meditation, because they can calm emotions (the pink tourmaline variety called rubellite, or the watermelon tourmaline variety) and stress situations.
It is not uncommon to see it worn at the level of the solar plexus, as a pendant or necklace, where its effect will be more effective on this precise level. It avoids states of sadness, keeping it at bay by creating an impassable energy field. By studying the benefits of Tourmaline, one can deduce that it would be ideal for people with extraordinary abilities to perceive the paranormal energies of their environment, because in addition to absorbing negative energy, it can also help control the effects caused by fear.
Together with tiger's eye, black tourmaline offers all its benefits in fighting negative energy, especially when worn as a beaded bracelet or necklace. If it is multicolored, the tourmaline will carry various benefits but will not be focused on a single virtue. When mounted in a ring with a cabochon or in earrings (always with a cabochon affixed to a silver or gold mounting), the stone restores its benefits but in a smaller measure.
Tourmaline jewelry is highly prized by jewelers for its unique and singular beauty. The rarest and most expensive cabochons are in most cases those in watermelon crystal for their multiple colors, ranging from pink to green through transparency.
In crystal healing, the power of this mineral not only has a very positive influence on well-being and mental health, but also on the body. It influences the balance in various aspects of body functioning, especially in healing processes.
Experimentally, it is used to eliminate pain, rid the body of toxins and balance the endocrine system, relieve stress in cases of physical pain and disorders. Once again, these processes are intimately linked to the pyroelectric and piezoelectric faculties of the stone. Tourmaline's protective energy also helps relieve stress.
This stone produces weak infrared rays with energetic and calorific effects of analgesic. In contact with the skin, a natural heat is propagated which, thanks to its relaxing action, alleviates the muscular, articular and ligamentary pains.
Moreover, this stone has qualities that affect magnetic fields. It can be used to reduce the negative effects of electromagnetic waves from household appliances.
In people sensitive to the nuisances produced by electromagnetic waves, this gem will simplify their life. Sensitive to perfumes, perspiration and household products, this stone is also used in cosmetics in the manufacture of perfumes.
Often hand-polished, it can be used in different ways as jewelry. It can easily be carried in a trouser pocket, jacket or even in a handbag.
When talking about physical health, it is inevitable to refer to its ability to help balance and unblock the chakras, which makes it a very good support for Reiki practice. Tourmaline is linked to the root chakra and the heart chakra, essential for stability, grounding, protection and rooting.
Some experts believe that it is very useful to place it on the skin at the solar plexus to help balance this area, or even at the 3rd eye for some opinions. Another inescapable fact is its ability to shift energy from a positive to a negative pole, and vice versa.
This seems to be an extraordinary faculty, however, the person who wears it will have to remain vigilant and protect it from the looks or friction of unknown or "enemy" people.
To purify it, place the stone in the middle of burning incense smoke and visualize the negative forces coming out of the stone by following the path of the incense smoke.
At France Minéraux, tourmaline is offered in qualities ranging from AB to AA: in elastic bead bracelets, or gold or silver clasps, bead necklaces with silver or gold clasps, pendants mounted in silver or steel with a cabochon or even in the form of a rolled stone.
Our tourmaline is also available in stock in pebble, flat stone, strands of pearls etc... If however you see it out of stock on a model that you like, do not hesitate to contact us directly because it is very possible that the product is in stock and not in shortage in our workshops.
If you need an expert opinion or simply an opinion / advice, do not hesitate to contact us, a consultant will answer you with the greatest pleasure.
Depending on what you wish to balance or treat in lithotherapy, the colors of the tourmaline will be of great importance. Its effect will be targeted according to the corresponding chakra, and it can then be worn as jewelry or other forms of objects.
We often recommend pearl bracelets because they are both discreet and fully in contact with the skin. Tourmaline is usually worn alone but as previously stated, it can be worn alongside a bracelet of tiger's eye beads depending on the desired virtues, or a rock crystal to amplify the effect and energy of the gem.
Tourmaline stone comes in different colors. And each color has its own virtues. Black Tourmaline has the ability to absorb harmful energies to free the mind and body. But when another stone is near, it can also take its energies. Therefore, no other stone should be associated with black tourmaline.
Wearing stones that act on the same chakra strengthens their power. Pink Tourmaline and Jade soothe the heart chakra. When balanced, it brings joy to life and a sincere love for others and oneself. It is a very important chakra for relationships and self-confidence.
Stones are fragile elements. They can get dirty easily and lose their protective capacity. Tourmaline is placed in a large volume of demineralized water to clean itself. The water can be slightly salted to reinforce the cleaning. The Tourmaline stone should remain in this bath overnight.
This mineral then needs solar or lunar rays to recharge its energy. Indeed, after being worn for several weeks the stone exhausts its benefits. The ideal for Tourmaline are the rays of the full moon, during a whole night.