A Guide to Paraiba Tourmaline

A Rare Gemstone with Unmatched Colour

Paraiba tourmaline is one of the rarest gemstones in the world, known for its vivid neon blue to green colour and exceptional intensity. Discovered only a few decades ago, this distinctive stone has become highly sought after in fine jewellery, valued for its brightness, colour and rarity.

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Pear Neon Paraiba Tourmaline & Diamond Ring, 950 Platinum

What is Paraiba Tourmaline?

The story of Paraiba tourmaline begins in the late 1980s, when a Brazilian miner named Heitor Dimas Barbosa believed something extraordinary lay beneath the hills of the Paraiba state in Brazil. After years of labour-intensive digging, his persistence led to the discovery of a gemstone that would transform the world of jewellery.

Unlike any other tourmaline, Paraiba tourmaline displays a vivid, electric neon blue hue never seen before in gemstones, often compared to the colours of a tropical sea, as seen in our Paraiba tourmaline ring.

Discover our Paraiba tourmaline jewellery collection, where each piece highlights the gemstone’s intensity.

What Makes Paraiba Tourmaline Unique?

COLOUR: The most defining feature of Paraiba tourmaline is its mesmerising neon blue to green hues. The intensity is unlike any other gemstone, with an almost otherworldly glow. Even in low light, these gems appear to radiate from within, making them instantly recognisable.
RARITY: While tourmalines are found in many parts of the world, Paraiba tourmalines are exceptionally rare, occurring only in select locations such as Brazil, Mozambique, and Nigeria. This rarity makes them highly valuable, making a Paraiba tourmaline ring ideal for special occasions.
COPPER AND MANGANESE: Paraiba tourmalines are chemically unique due to their copper and manganese content, which gives rise to their signature neon colours. No other tourmaline contains this combination, making them distinct among gemstones.
EXCEPTIONAL BRILLIANCE: Paraiba tourmalines are known for their remarkable brilliance and lustre. When expertly cut, they display a vibrant sparkle that enhances their already striking colour.

Oval Paraiba Tourmaline Solitaire Ring, 18K Yellow Gold

Paraiba Tourmaline in Jewellery

Due to its rarity and striking appearance, Paraiba tourmaline is one of the most valuable gemstones in the world. Its vivid colour pairs beautifully with both white and yellow gold, and it is often set in fine jewellery such as rings, necklaces, and earrings.

Paraiba tourmaline is also chosen for engagement rings, offering a distinctive alternative to traditional designs. A Paraiba tourmaline ring stands out for its exceptional colour and rarity.

Many high-end jewellery designers favour Paraiba tourmalines in their collections, creating pieces that highlight the gemstone’s intensity. Whether as the centrepiece of a ring or part of a multi-stone design, Paraiba tourmaline jewellery is designed to attract attention and admiration.

Aftercare for Your Paraiba Tourmaline

Like any valuable gemstone, proper care is essential to maintain the beauty and longevity of a Paraiba tourmaline. To clean your Paraiba tourmaline jewellery, we advise sending the item to be cleaned by one of our specialists at Marcello Riccio.

In case this is not possible, we offer our jewellery cleaning kit, allowing you to carry out the cleaning yourself by lightly brushing with a soft brush and using the spray included within the kit.

Avoid ultrasonic cleaners or harsh chemicals, as these can damage the stone or its setting. Storing the gem separately from other jewellery pieces can help prevent scratches.

We recommend bringing your jewellery to Marcello Riccio once a year for a thorough check, cleaning, and revitalisation.

Oval Brazilian Neon Paraiba Tourmaline and Diamond Ring, Platinum

Where Paraiba Tourmaline Comes From

Mining Paraiba tourmaline is an intricate and challenging process, as these gemstones are found in limited and often hard-to-reach areas. Since the gemstone’s discovery in Brazil, mining operations have expanded to other parts of the world, including Mozambique and Nigeria, though Brazilian Paraiba tourmalines remain the rarest.

Mining in Brazil

The original Paraiba tourmalines were discovered in the hills of the Paraiba state in north-eastern Brazil in the late 1980s. The mining process was arduous from the beginning due to the terrain, with gemstones found in pegmatite vein formations deep within the ground.

Early mining was labour-intensive and slow, involving hand tools such as chisels, hammers, and shovels to extract gemstone-bearing rock. Miners followed these veins through hard rock, digging tunnels and shafts in search of the copper-bearing material.

Due to the unpredictable nature of pegmatite veins, large amounts of rock often had to be excavated to recover small quantities of tourmaline. Today, mining in Brazil has slowed significantly as the original deposits have been largely exhausted, making Brazilian Paraiba tourmalines increasingly rare.

Mining in Africa

A new source of Paraiba tourmaline was discovered in Africa in the early 2000s. Deposits in Mozambique and Nigeria introduced a fresh supply of the gemstone to the market.

Ethical Mining and the Future of Paraiba Tourmaline

As with many gemstones, there is growing awareness of the importance of ethical mining practices. This includes minimising environmental impact, respecting local communities, and ensuring fair labour conditions for miners.

All our Paraiba tourmalines, from both Brazilian and Mozambican origins, are sourced directly from operations that follow fair trade principles. This ensures miners are paid fairly and that local communities benefit from the economic activity generated by mining.

There are also ongoing efforts to rehabilitate mined land and reduce the environmental footprint of mining operations, supporting a more sustainable future for Paraiba tourmaline.