Tourmaline Buyers Guide: Identifying Different Qualities, Prices & Authenticity

Tourmalines are among the most versatile and unique gemstones on the market, available in a wide range of colors and price points. In this guide, we’ll help you understand how to evaluate tourmalines, including their different qualities and value ranges.

Shop our tourmaline collection here. Prefer visuals? Watch the video above, or listen to the podcast version at the bottom of the page. Enjoy!

The Basics of Tourmaline

What colors do tourmalines come in?
Pretty much all of them! Tourmalines are incredibly diverse and can be found in a full spectrum of colors—including neon blue, vibrant green, orange, pink, yellow, black, and more.

One of the most unique features of tourmaline is that it often appears bi-colored or even tri-colored, meaning a single gemstone can display multiple colors. In some cases, the colors are clearly zoned within specific areas of the stone. In others, the hues shift depending on the angle you view it from, creating a dynamic and ever-changing appearance.

This colorful variation gives tourmalines a captivating color play that stands out compared to more uniform gemstones like topaz or amethyst.

Prices and Identifying Tourmaline Qualities

How much does tourmaline cost?
Tourmaline prices can vary dramatically—ranging from as low as $50 per carat to as high as $10,000 per carat. The most important factor in determining the value of a tourmaline is its color (with the exception of more common shades).

One of the rarest and most valuable varieties is the Paraiba tourmaline, known for its electric neon blue-green and violet hues. Due to its extreme rarity, Paraiba tourmalines can reach up to $10,000 per carat.

On the other end of the spectrum, black tourmaline—also called Schorl tourmaline—is the most abundant and affordable. With its deep black hue, it is commonly used in mourning jewelry and is priced similarly to citrine, peridot, and garnet.

When pricing rare colored tourmalines—such as neon blues or violet hues—gemologists prioritize color over clarity during the grading process. These colors are so rare that the presence of inclusions is often overlooked if the color is exceptional.

For most tourmalines, especially once you reach the 3 to 5 carat range and above, prices can increase significantly per carat. Size combined with a rare color can make these gemstones exceptionally valuable.

Is Tourmaline a Good Engagement Ring option?

Another major advantage? Tourmalines come in a wide range of vibrant colors, many of which are more affordable than diamonds. This allows you to choose larger carat weights without exceeding your budget.

Tourmaline vs. Morganite for Engagement Rings

While morganite is a popular choice for engagement rings, it does have its downsides. One common issue is that morganite tends to attract grease and oils, requiring frequent cleaning to maintain its sparkle.

That’s why we often recommend sunset tourmaline as a beautiful alternative. When selected in a lighter shade, it closely resembles morganite—but with the added benefit of being less prone to dirt buildup. Tourmaline is slightly more expensive, but if you prefer a low-maintenance gemstone, sunset tourmaline is a smart and stylish upgrade.

If you are looking for a tourmaline engagement ring simply send us an email at info@fineandflux.com and we will be happy to help with the gemstone sourcing and custom design!

How to Identify Fake Tourmalines

While tourmalines are not commonly faked, imitation does occur—especially with highly sought-after varieties like watermelon tourmaline. One common method involves using colored glass wrapped in a thin plastic film to mimic the look of natural bi-colored or tri-colored stones.

You can often spot these fake tourmalines with a jeweler’s loupe. Look for:

• Residue or air bubbles trapped between the plastic and glass

• A visible seam or crease around the edge where the plastic sheet ends

• Unnatural color transitions or overly vivid tones that don't resemble natural inclusions

Check the Origin to Spot a Fake

Another red flag is inconsistent or inaccurate origin reports. For example:

• If your Paraiba tourmaline is claimed to be from Pakistan, it’s likely a fake—true Paraibas are only found in Brazil, Mozambique, and Nigeria.

• Chrome tourmalines are exclusively sourced from Tanzania.

Always verify that the gemstone's stated origin aligns with known mining locations.

Get a Professional Gemstone Evaluation

For high-value purchases, we strongly recommend having the gemstone certified by a reputable lab, such as the Gemological Institute of America (GIA). The GIA is a non-profit institution known for its strict grading standards and unbiased evaluations of both diamonds and colored gemstones.

Tourmaline Treatments: What You Need to Know

Like many gemstones, tourmalines are often treated to enhance their natural beauty. The most common methods are heat treatment and irradiation, both widely accepted practices in the gem industry.

Heat Treatment

Heat treatment is considered the most stable and reliable way to enhance a tourmaline's color. This process helps bring out more vivid and saturated hues. Even after treatment, the gemstone is still considered natural. Heat-treated tourmalines are durable, and the color is permanent, making this an industry-standard enhancement with no negative effect on the stone's long-term value.

Irradiation

Irradiation, on the other hand, is less stable. While it can also enhance color, the results may fade over time, especially when exposed to strong light or heat. This makes irradiated tourmalines less desirable. In some cases, irradiation can also cause a loss of bi-colored properties in varieties like rubellite tourmaline, making the stone appear opaque or overly uniform.

While untreated stones of the same color quality can demand much higher prices, treated tourmalines offer a more affordable way to enjoy vivid, eye-catching gems without compromising beauty.

Heat treatments are the most stable treatments for improving the color of a gemstone and even though they are treated the gemstones would still be considered natural.

Irradiation treatments are not as stable and if exposed to light or heat will begin to fade over time, making this a less desirable treatment between the two options. It can also erase the bi-colored properties of some shades of tourmaline such as rubellite, by making them opaque.

Tourmaline Crystal Formation & Cuts

The natural formation of tourmaline crystals is truly fascinating. They often appear as if they’re made up of hundreds of fine, hair-like filaments fused together into a cylindrical shape. Tourmalines form in water-rich environments, and during their growth, they absorb elements from their surroundings—which directly influence their color.

For example, if the crystal grows in an environment rich in copper, the resulting tourmaline will typically turn a vibrant green.

Due to this elongated crystal structure, gem cutters often shape tourmalines in alignment with the direction of the crystal’s natural growth. This is why elongated cuts—such as emerald cuts, ovals, and cushions—are especially common in tourmaline gemstones. These shapes not only preserve more of the original material but also enhance the way the stone reflects light along its length.

The History of Tourmaline

Tourmalines were first discovered in the 1500s, but due to their vibrant colors—especially pink (rubellite) and green (chrome tourmaline)—they were often mistaken for rubies and emeralds. It wasn’t until the 1800s, with the advancement of gemological tools and scientific analysis, that tourmaline was officially recognized as a distinct gemstone species.

During the late 19th and early 20th centuries, China became one of the largest importers of tourmaline. The Empress Dowager Cixi was particularly fond of the gem’s wide range of colors. Tourmaline was used in everything from fine jewelry to carved sculptures and even snuff bottles.

What Are Snuff Bottles?

If you’ve never heard of them, snuff bottles are small, ornate containers that held powdered tobacco. During the Qing Dynasty, smoking tobacco was banned—so people used powdered tobacco instead. These bottles were both functional and decorative, and tourmaline was a favorite material for their vibrant beauty. Users would take a pinch of tobacco using their forefinger and thumb and inhale it through the nose.

How cool is that? A gemstone once mistaken for royalty-level gems became an imperial favorite in its own right!

If you are looking for a tourmaline gemstone you can view our catalogue here, or you can send us an email at info@fineandflux.com. Leave a brief message of what your looking for and your budget and we will be happy to source them for you!

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