How to Pick Tourmaline

Tourmaline is a semi-precious stone that is available in nearly every color of the rainbow and can be found all over the world, making it a popular choice for jewelry designs. Often combined with diamonds, pearls and other semi-precious stones, tourmaline is a birthstone for the month of October as well as the stone to mark an eight-year wedding anniversary. Learn how to pick tourmaline jewelry for a gift or as a present to yourself.

Instructions

1

Choose a color, or two or three. Tourmaline comes in a variety of colors including red, green pink, blue, yellow and black. Some stones include two or more colors. For example, the watermelon tourmaline is green with pink in the center, much like the fruit. The bluish tourmaline called Paraiba is the rarest and most expensive.

2

Consider tourmaline's health benefits. Supposedly, the stone emits a weak electric current. Some people believe that it can have healing effects on the body. Black tourmaline especially is believed to increase confidence, strengthen the immune system and enhance alertness.

3

Learn about treatments for tourmaline. While natural, untreated stones are the most valuable, some stones are treated to increase clarity and make the color more intense. Treatments include radiation or heat, as well as resin fillings. You should be aware if your stone has been treated as this will effect how you care for it.

4

Evaluate different cuts. Tourmaline forms in long, slender crystal shapes, but it is available in just about any cut. Many people prefer the emerald or other rectangular cuts because they show off the varied and rich color of the stone.