Tourmaline Paraíba, the rarest and most expensive
Tourmaline Paraíba is a gem discovered in the district of São José da Batalha, in the territorial domains of the municipality of Salgadinho, in the Metropolitan Region of Patos, state of Paraíba. In 1980, under the supervision of Heitor Barbosa, with the first finding, eight years after the start of the activity. Also called blue tourmaline, it conquered the international market, becoming a fad mainly in Europe.
The rarity, color and shine of the stone are the main reasons for its high price, according to the Companhia de Desenvolvimento de Recursos Minerais da Paraíba (CRDM).
Brands such as Dior, Tiffany and H.Stern came to sell jewelry of up to R$3.07 million with just one tourmaline.
The largest Tourmaline Paraíba in the World was extracted here in Brazil.
THE NECKLACE WHERE IT IS SPIKED FROM THE WORLD'S LARGEST TOURMALINE PARAÍBA. Named Etheral Carolina Divine and the stone weighs an impressive 191.87 carats and is currently no longer in Brazil. Etheral Carolina Divine is currently owned by Canadian philanthropist Vicente Boucher and considered the largest Tourmaline Paraíba in the world, including by the Guines Book.
The stone was placed in a necklace and is valued at more than 125 million dollars, the equivalent of almost half a billion reais. Surely it is among the most valuable gemstones in the world.
In the 2000s, cupiferous tourmalines were discovered in Mozambique and Nigeria, starting the discussion on the mineral's nomenclature. In 2012, it was determined by the Laboratory Manual Harmonization Committee (LMHC) that all bluish and greenish tourmalines (as well as their various shades) that contain copper and manganese would receive the nomenclature of Paraíba Paraiba Tourmaline, regardless of their origin.
This gemstone is a copper variety of elbaite. Its different color is a result of the content, with traces of copper and manganese.
