Is Mozambique Paraiba tourmaline rare?

To put their rarity into perspective, there is only one Paraiba tourmaline mined for every 10,000 diamonds, and a good quality Paraiba from Brazil weighing over three carats is virtually unheard of.

What is the rarest type of tourmaline?

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.

What is the rarest color of tourmaline?

The rarest and most expensive tourmaline is the paraiba variety -- a neon-like blue or green that is colored by traces of copper. It was first discovered in the Brazilian state of Paraiba in 1989.

Which important fact differs Mozambique Paraiba tourmaline from other tourmaline varieties?

“There are small chemical differences between the tourmalines from Brazil, Nigeria and Mozambique. The specific Paraiba tourmaline colour is due to traces of copper. The Mozambique tourmaline has less copper and is a touch lighter.

Is Paraíba a good investment?

The Brazilian paraiba is still the most valuable, but color and clarity are more important than origin for these rare gems. Clean paraiba tourmalines with exceptionally vivid color are the most valuable. These are not the only investment grade gem varieties, by any means.

Mining Paraiba Tourmaline in Mozambique

How much are Paraíba tourmalines worth?

Quality Paraiba tourmalines range from $2,000 to $50,000 per carat. Because of the value and rarity of this stone, purchasing a larger number of small stones is often more feasible than finding a multi-carat, genuine Paraiba on the market.

Does Paraiba tourmaline glow in the dark?

A product of the trace element copper, colours range from startling turquoise to majestic blue-green, but it is the incandescent glow that appears to light up the stone from within that makes Paraiba tourmalines incomparable to any other gem.

Why is Paraiba tourmaline so expensive?

The rarity of Paraiba Tourmalines - Paraiba Tourmalines are rare because they have, thus far, only been found in copper rich areas such as Brazil, Nigeria and Mozambique. Paraiba tourmalines from Brazil are among the rarest gems in the world.

How do you identify Paraiba tourmaline?

When identifying a paraiba tourmaline stone, you'll want to look for green hues within the faceted gemstone; these green flashes, often found within a lighter, blue body, are evidence of the gemstone's copper content.

Is Paraiba tourmaline still being mined?

Since the initial discovery of this copper-bearing tourmaline in 1982, production has been sporadic and has not kept up with the strong market demand. Mining currently takes place at the original discovery—the Mina da Batalha—and at adjacent workings near São José da Batalha in Paraíba State.

What is the rarest gemstone?

Painite : Not just the rarest gemstone, but also the rarest mineral on earth, Painite holds the Guinness World Record for it. After its discovery in the year 1951, there existed only 2 specimens of Painite for the next many decades. By the year 2004, there were less than 2 dozens known gemstones.

Are all Paraiba tourmalines heated?

Paraiba tourmalines are commonly heat treated.

Is tourmaline more expensive than emerald?

Emerald is, carat-for-carat, much more expensive than tourmaline when both are of the same grade. What is this? And the truth is that lower grade tourmaline is most often sold as specimens to collectors, while even opaque emerald is usually cut to increase its value.

Is tourmaline precious or semiprecious?

A tourmaline is a semi-precious gemstone that comes in more colors and color combination than any other gemstone, staying true to its name, which comes from the Sinhalese word “turmali,” meaning “mixed.” Due to the wide range of colors, tourmalines are often mistaken for many other gemstones.

Where is tourmaline most commonly found?

Localities. Gem and specimen tourmaline is mined chiefly in Brazil and many parts of Africa, including Tanzania, Nigeria, Kenya, Madagascar, Mozambique, Malawi, and Namibia.

How rare is a Paraiba tourmaline?

To put their rarity into perspective, there is only one Paraiba tourmaline mined for every 10,000 diamonds, and a good quality Paraiba from Brazil weighing over three carats is virtually unheard of. So rare are authentic Brazilian Paraiba tourmalines that it is not unusual for them to achieve five figures per carat.

What is the most expensive Paraiba tourmaline?

The Ethereal Carolina Divine Paraiba

This record-breaking tourmaline is nothing short of remarkable, and has been valued at up to $125 million. It has since been set into a necklace designed by Moneca Kaufman, named the Paraiba Star of the Ocean Jewels.

Is Paraiba tourmaline more expensive than diamond?

Far rarer than diamonds, Paraiba tourmaline, discovered only in the 1980s, is treasured as much for its extraordinary color as its scarcity, both of which contribute to its high value. While diamonds generally sell for about $6,000 per carat, a carat of Paraiba tourmaline is likely to fetch about $16,000.

What does Paraiba tourmaline symbolize?

To begin, it's worth mentioning that the Paraíba tourmaline is a birthstone for those born in October. Symbolically speaking, this precious gem represents wisdom, voice, insight, and creativity.

Does Paraíba tourmaline change color?

The extraordinary vividness of the Paraiba Tourmaline does not reveal itself until the stone has been cut. When faceted, they scintillate an unusual 'fire' and appear to glow intensely even when there is very little light. For this reason, their color is often referred to as 'electric' or 'neon'.

Can I sell tourmaline?

The price that tourmaline sells for depends on quality. It can range from a few dollars per carat to thousands. In 2015, a 31.96 cushion cut carat rubellite tourmaline ring was sold for $18,750 at Christie's. Similarly, in 2011 a pink tourmaline pendant was sold for $13,750 at the same auction house.

Is Paraiba a pyramid scheme?

A brief look at its presentation reveals that it is a typical pyramid scheme. It lives on new deposits coming in, it needs new members to be recruited and it has a correspondent structure. People will get rewarded for introducing new investors to Paraiba, you can get a percentage of what people below you deposit.

What is the best precious stone to invest in?

The most popular gemstone for investors is definitely the diamond. Other gemstones like the ruby and the emerald (also the tanzanite, the alexandrite and other particularly rare varieties) can also be considered an excellent investment and can increase their value in time, even more than the diamond.

What gemstones will increase in value?

The vast gemstone market can be a maze, but some of the best known rocks also represent the most investment-worthy. Rubies, emeralds and diamonds are all beloved of collectors, based on their solid returns. But newer entrants like tourmaline and tanzanite have been performing even better as investments.