From Under The Earth to the Stars: Discover the Fascinating World of Tourmalines

Not just a single stone, tourmalines are a group of semi-precious gemstones that share an array of amazing visual and chemical properties. The ultimate gem for anyone who loves variety and vibrance, their dazzling array of colours they’ve been cherished by everyone from ancient kings to modern-day gem lovers. Whether you're into astrology, geology, or just appreciate a stunning piece of jewellery, tourmalines have something to offer. Let’s take a fun dive into what makes this gemstone so special!

Historians say that the name ‘tourmaline’ comes from the Sinhalese (Sri-Lankan) word “turamali”, meaning "stone of mixed colours" — a perfect fit since tourmalines come in pretty much every shade you can imagine. The Ancient Egyptians even believed these stones travelled through rainbows as they made their way to the Earth’s surface, picking up all their colours along the way. Tourmalines are formed over millions of years deep within the Earth starting off in rock formations like granite and metamorphic rocks, and different elements in the ground give them their wide range of colours. For example, green tourmalines get their colour from iron, while rubellites (the pink and red varieties) owe their vibrant hues to manganese.

But tourmalines aren’t just old-school. Fast forward to today, and you’ll find them in some pretty high-tech places, too! Thanks to their unique ability to generate electricity when heated or squeezed (known as piezoelectricity), they’ve even been used by NASA to help study the stars. 

While you might not have star-gazing in your sites, a beautiful tourmaline piece is absolutely within reach here at Paddington Jeweller, and boy do we have some stunning pieces (if we don’t say so ourselves)!

First up, we have our Camile green tourmaline custom ring. Showcasing the stunning brilliance of a 4.32ct green tourmaline, this piece features carefully curated contemporary and organic design. The intricate 5 interwoven bands in 14kt gold perfectly frame the stone, enhancing its beauty and uniqueness.

Next up we have something truly special: our Rosie rubellite pendant. Seen below featured on a pearl necklace, this amazing kite shaped pendant features a striking 0.87ct rubellite set in 18kt rose gold and encircled by a group of 14 shimmering diamonds. 

This pendant was specially designed by us and can be worn either way due to the unique enhancer bale. Rubellite is a special and highly desirable kind of tourmaline that should be a very intense pinkish-red colour. As a tourmaline, rubellite is an October birthstone, Libra zodiac stone, and 8th wedding anniversary gem. According to some, rubellite also specifically commemorates a 5th anniversary and is a star stone for the sun.  

Here at Paddington Jeweller we pride ourselves on the versatility of our designs, and we couldn’t show off our tourmaline pieces without mentioning these beautiful Totu rubellite earrings. 

This stunning pair features 1.86ct emerald-cut pink tourmalines set in 9kt rose gold, and properly showcases the rich deep-pink hues of this brilliant variety of tourmaline. 

A great thing about tourmalines is that they’re pretty durable with a Mohs hardness of 7 - 7.5. This makes them a great choice for jewellery, whether you’re going for an everyday look or something more high-end. It's easy to wear and easy to care for but it’s best to avoid steam or ultrasonic cleaners and avoid sudden temperature changes as well as harsh chemicals. Tourmaline will respond well to warm, sudsy water, a thorough rinse and a soft-cloth dry.

So what are you waiting for? Check out our range online or stop by the store and find your next terrific tourmaline piece.