Tourmaline

October’s second birthstone is Tourmaline, symbolizing luck, clear thinking and protection from unhealthy energies. Tourmaline is available in a variety of colours and is perfect for everyday wear.  Derived from the Singhalese word “Turamali” meaning gemstone, they are known as the rainbow gemstone.

Blue Tourmaline symbolizes calmness and offers relief from stress.

Pink Tourmaline symbolizes comfort and safety and is said to heal emotional wounds.

Green Tourmaline symbolizes joy and is said to encourage openness and patience.

Brown Tourmaline symbolizes courage and persistence and is said to calm and stabilize the inner self.

Black Tourmaline symbolizes luck and happiness, it is said that when it is rubbed it becomes charged with electricity and the luck magnifies.

Watermelon Tourmaline symbolizes balance and is said to attract love.

According to Egyptian legend, Tourmaline comes in such a variety of colours because on its journey from the center of the earth it passed over a rainbow and in doing so assumed its colours.

Birthstone
October

Colour
Tourmaline has one of the widest varieties of colours including, reds, pastel pinks, emerald greens, deep blues, yellows and multi-colour combinations.

Hardness
7 (1 softest – 10 hardest)

Anniversary Stone
8

Care
Tourmaline is generally stable to light and isn’t affected by exposure to chemicals, but heat can damage a tourmaline. High heat can alter the color, and sudden temperature change (thermal shock) can cause fracturing.

Cleaning
Warm, soapy water is the best method for cleaning the tourmaline. The use of ultrasonic and steam cleaners is not recommended.

Known Treatments
Irradiation and heating are used to improve the colour.