Paraiba Tourmaline: How to Buy, Meanings, Properties & Facts

Paraiba Tourmaline is a highly sought-after gemstone due to its vibrant blue-green color and rarity. In this article, we will explore its meanings, and properties, and provide tips on making a smart purchase.

Paraiba Tourmaline is a stunning gemstone from Brazil known for its mesmerizing blue or green hue caused by copper and manganese. It is highly desired by collectors and jewelry connoisseurs.

This article explores Paraiba Tourmaline, its meanings, and properties like improving communication skills and emotional healing. It also provides important information on durability, clarity, and value factors. Whether you want to buy a Paraiba Tourmaline or learn about gemstones, this guide will help you make informed decisions.

What Is Paraiba Tourmaline?

Paraiba tourmaline is a rare and highly sought-after gemstone. It is known for its vibrant blue-green color, which can range from turquoise to neon green. This gemstone belongs to the family of copper-bearing tourmalines, also known as cuprian tourmaline, due to their unique chemical composition. The allochromatic mineral owes its distinctive neon blue hue to trace amounts of copper.

It exhibits excellent transparency and high refractive index, allowing light to pass through and create a dazzling display of brilliance.

Its unique combination of rarity, intense color saturation, and remarkable clarity further enhance its desirability among collectors and jewelry enthusiasts worldwide.

Meaning and Symbolism of Paraíba Tourmaline

Paraíba Tourmaline holds significant cultural, metaphysical, and symbolic meanings.

Cultural Meaning

1. Rarity and Luxury: Paraíba Tourmaline is considered one of the rarest gemstones in the world, and its scarcity contributes to its high value and exclusivity. As such, it is often associated with luxury, wealth, and opulence.
2. Brazilian Heritage: The gemstone’s name, Paraíba, reflects its origin in Brazil. It has become a source of national pride for the country, representing its rich natural resources and contributing to the gemstone industry’s growth.

Symbolism

1. Joy and Happiness: Paraíba Tourmaline’s vibrant blue-green color is often associated with the ocean, tropical waters, and the beauty of nature. It symbolizes joy, happiness, and a connection to the natural world, evoking feelings of serenity and tranquility.
2. Transformation and Growth: The unique and rare nature of Paraíba Tourmaline symbolizes transformation and growth. It represents the ability to adapt, evolve, and embrace change, making it a powerful symbol for personal and spiritual development.
3. Individuality and Uniqueness: The gemstone’s rarity and distinctive color make it a symbol of individuality and uniqueness. It resonates with those who appreciate standing out and embracing their own distinct qualities and characteristics.

Healing Properties of Paraíba Tourmaline

Paraíba tourmaline is not only visually stunning but also possesses healing properties that make it highly sought after. 

Spiritual Healing

Paraiba tourmaline is said to promote spiritual healing by opening up the heart to divine love and wisdom, facilitating a deep connection with the spiritual realm.

Emotional Healing

It is known for its emotional healing properties. It is believed to have a calming effect on emotions, helping to soothe emotional turmoil and promote a sense of inner peace. This gemstone is said to encourage compassion and understanding, allowing individuals to heal emotional wounds and foster healthy relationships.

Mental Healing

Furthermore, it is thought to have mental healing properties. It is said to enhance mental clarity, focus, and concentration, making it an ideal stone for those seeking to improve their mental abilities. This gemstone is believed to stimulate creativity and enhance problem-solving skills, allowing individuals to overcome mental blockages and find innovative solutions.

Physical Healing

Paraiba tourmaline is believed to have a revitalizing effect on the body. It is said to boost the immune system and promote overall wellness. This gemstone is also believed to have detoxifying properties, helping to eliminate toxins from the body and restore balance.

Chakras Association with Paraíba Tourmaline

A fascinating aspect of paraíba tourmaline is its association with the chakras, particularly the heart chakras, as it is believed to promote emotional healing, compassion, and love.

When used in meditation or placed on the heart chakra during energy work, this gemstone is said to enhance feelings of harmony and balance within oneself and foster a deeper connection with others.

It is important to clean and recharge your chakra stone to ensure its continued strength and effectiveness. Please read our beginner’s guide on chakras to learn more about how to recharge and cleanse your paraiba tourmaline.

Zodiac Connection

The zodiac sign associated with Paraiba tourmaline is Libra. Libra is an air sign, symbolized by scales, and is known for its appreciation of beauty, balance, and harmony. Paraiba, with its stunning and vibrant blue-green color, is often considered a stone of balance and harmony.

 It is believed to promote calmness, serenity, and emotional healing, which aligns with Libra’s desire for peace and equilibrium. However, it’s important to note that gemstone associations with zodiac signs are not universally agreed upon and can vary in different cultural and astrological traditions.

Crystal Pairing

There are several crystals and stones that can be paired with Paraiba tourmaline. Some popular choices include:

1. Clear Quartz: Clear quartz amplifies the properties of Paraiba tourmaline and enhances its energy.
2. Aquamarine: Aquamarine complements the vibrant blue-green color of Paraiba tourmaline and promotes emotional healing and clarity.
3. Moonstone: Moonstone enhances the feminine energy of Paraiba tourmaline and helps balance emotions.
4. Morganite: Morganite shares a similar color range with Paraiba tourmaline, creating a harmonious combination. It promotes love, compassion, and emotional healing.
5. Blue Lace Agate: Blue Lace Agate has a calming energy that complements the vibrant energy of Paraiba tourmaline. It aids in clear communication and supports emotional balance.
6. Larimar: Larimar has a soothing, oceanic energy that pairs well with Paraiba tourmaline. It promotes peace, tranquility, and connection to the divine feminine.
7. Lepidolite: Lepidolite has a calming and balancing energy that can enhance the properties of Paraiba tourmaline. It promotes relaxation, stress relief, and emotional stability.

Ultimately, the choice of crystal or stone to pair with Paraiba tourmaline depends on personal preference and the specific intentions or energies one wishes to amplify or balance.

Origins and Sources of Paraíba Tourmaline

Paraíba tourmaline is primarily found in Brazil, specifically in the state of Paraíba. It was discovered by Heitor Dimas Barbosa in 1989, who stumbled upon bright neon specimens while mining for other minerals. This finding led to further exploration in the region, resulting in the identification of a new type of tourmaline that had never been seen before.

Although most paraíba tourmaline comes from Brazil, there have also been smaller deposits found in Nigeria and Mozambique. However, these Nigerian samples generally lack the intense neon blue-green color that characterizes the Brazilian stones.

Today, Rio Grande do Norte is one of the main sources of high-quality paraíba tourmaline stones.

It is also worth noting that Paraíba deposits are often found in secondary deposits associated with sapphire deposits.

Physical Properties

Here is the general description of the physical properties of Paraiba tourmaline:

• Luster: Vitreous to sub-vitreous
• Transparency: Transparent to translucent
• Color: Typically ranges from neon green to neon blue, but can also include shades of turquoise and violet
• Streak: White
• Hardness: 7-7.5 on the Mohs scale
• Tenacity: Brittle
• Cleavage: Indistinct to absent
• Fracture: Conchoidal to uneven
• Density: Approximately 3.06-3.18 g/cm³
• Specific Gravity: Approximately 3.02-3.26
• Crystal System: Hexagonal
• Composition: A complex aluminum borosilicate mineral with additional elements such as copper and manganese

Buying Guide for Paraíba Tourmaline

One important factor to consider when buying Paraíba tourmalines is the gem’s body of light, as it greatly impacts the stone’s beauty and value.

To assist you in making informed decisions, we recommend reading our comprehensive value and buying guide for these beautiful gemstones, whether you are adding them to your collection or creating jewelry pieces.

Care and Maintenance

To properly care for paraiba tourmaline, it is essential to follow specific guidelines to maintain its beauty and longevity. 

To ensure that your paraiba tourmaline retains its vibrant color and strong vitreous luster, read our step-by-step guide on how to properly care for your paraiba tourmaline plus tips of storage.

Final Thoughts

In conclusion, Paraiba tourmaline is a valuable gemstone known for its vibrant green-blue color. Its meaning and symbolism are associated with qualities like love, healing, and positivity. With its unique properties and connection to various chakras, it is believed to have powerful energy-absorbing abilities.

When buying Paraiba tourmaline, it is important to consider the quality factors known as the 4 C’s – color, clarity, cut, and carat weight. Proper care should be taken to maintain the beauty of these precious crystals.

Frequently Asked Questions

Are there any alternative gemstones that have similar properties to Paraiba Tourmaline?

Some alternative gemstones that share similar properties to Paraiba tourmaline include blue topaz, aquamarine, and apatite. These gems possess comparable color ranges and can exhibit similar levels of brilliance and transparency.

How can I tell if a Paraiba Tourmaline is natural or synthetic?

The authenticity of a Paraiba tourmaline can be determined by examining its physical and chemical properties, such as color, clarity, and inclusion patterns. Specialized gemological tests, including spectroscopy, can also be conducted to differentiate between natural and synthetic stones.

Can Paraiba Tourmaline be used in jewelry other than rings and necklaces?

Paraiba tourmaline can be used in various forms of jewelry, including earrings, bracelets, and brooches. Its vibrant color and rarity make it a desirable gemstone for those seeking unique and eye-catching pieces.

What is the average price range for Paraiba Tourmaline?

The average price range for Paraiba Tourmaline can vary greatly depending on various factors such as size, color, clarity, and quality. On average, smaller Paraiba gemstones can range from $500 to $3,000 per carat. However, larger and higher quality stones can command prices of $10,000 or more per carat. It is important to note that rare and exceptional Paraiba Tourmaline gemstones can reach prices exceeding $50,000 per carat.

Are there any specific precautions or care instructions for maintaining the color and luster of Paraiba Tourmaline?

To maintain the color and luster of paraiba tourmaline, it is important to take certain precautions. Avoid exposing the gemstone to harsh chemicals, extreme temperatures, and direct sunlight. Regularly clean the stone with a soft cloth and store it separately from other jewelry to prevent scratches.