Natural Tourmaline in Bangkok: Paraiba, Pink and Bicolour
By Ansh Gupta, second generation at KC Gems House, Jewelry Trade Center, Silom Road, Bangkok
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Alt: Natural tourmalines in neon Paraiba blue, pink, green and bicolour pink-green laid out on a white gem paper in Bangkok
No gem family covers as many colours as tourmaline. On a single tray at the Jewelry Trade Center you can see neon blue Paraiba, raspberry rubellite, mint green, canary yellow, deep teal indicolite, and bicolour crystals that change from pink to green from one end to the other. Ask ten designers for their favourite coloured stone and at least a few will say tourmaline.
Tourmaline is also one of the most confusing stones to buy. Colour names overlap, treatments are common and not always obvious, and the word “Paraiba” is used for everything from a five-figure collector stone to a cheap blue imitation. That is where buying from an experienced dealer pays for itself.
My family has traded coloured stones in Bangkok since 1990, from our office inside the Jewelry Trade Center on Silom Road, a short walk from the GIT, AIGS and Lotus Gemology laboratories. On this page I will walk you through every tourmaline worth knowing, how to judge colour and clarity, what treatments to ask about, what tourmaline costs per carat in 2026, and how to buy it safely in Bangkok. If you know what you want, skip to how to buy tourmaline from us or see the full natural gemstones collection.
Tourmaline at a glance
Mineral group — Tourmaline (complex boron silicates); most gem tourmaline is elbaite
Hardness — 7 to 7.5 on the Mohs scale
Crystal system — Trigonal, doubly refractive with strong pleochroism
Main varieties — Paraiba (copper-bearing), rubellite, pink, indicolite, verdelite (green), chrome, bicolour, watermelon, canary, cat’s eye
Key origins — Brazil, Nigeria, Mozambique, Afghanistan, Pakistan, Madagascar, Namibia, Tanzania, Malawi, Sri Lanka, USA
Typical treatments — Heat, irradiation, fracture filling; must be disclosed
Birthstone — October (alongside opal)
Thai name — ทัวร์มาลีน
What tourmaline actually is
Tourmaline is a group of boron silicate minerals with a very flexible chemistry. Iron, manganese, copper, chromium, vanadium, titanium and lithium can all slip into its structure, which is why it comes in so many colours. Most gem tourmaline is a species called elbaite, named after the island of Elba in Italy.
Three things set tourmaline apart:
1. Colour range. Tourmaline appears in virtually every colour, often several in one crystal.
2. Pleochroism. Tourmaline shows different colours or depths of colour when viewed along different directions of the crystal. Looking down the length of the crystal, the colour is usually much darker. Cutters must orient each stone carefully, especially greens and blues, to avoid a dark, closed look.
3. Electrical properties. Tourmaline becomes electrically charged when heated or squeezed. Dutch traders in the 1700s noticed warm tourmaline attracted ash from their pipes and called it “aschentrekker”, the ash puller.
The name tourmaline comes from the Sinhalese word “turmali”, used for mixed coloured gem pebbles in Sri Lanka, where Dutch traders first bought it.
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Alt: A rainbow of natural tourmalines showing red rubellite, pink, orange, yellow, green, teal indicolite and neon Paraiba blue
Tourmaline in history
For centuries tourmaline was mistaken for other stones. A famous red gem in the Russian crown jewels known as “Caesar’s Ruby” turned out to be rubellite tourmaline, and green tourmaline from Brazil was sold in Europe as “Brazilian emerald” until the 1800s.
In the late 19th and early 20th century, pink tourmaline from San Diego County in California found its biggest admirer in Empress Dowager Cixi of China, who bought large quantities for carvings and jewellery. When her court fell, that market collapsed. Tourmaline then had a quiet century until the discovery of Paraiba tourmaline in Brazil in the late 1980s made it one of the most talked-about stones in the world.
The tourmalines worth buying, one by one
Paraiba tourmaline
Paraiba is the most famous and most expensive tourmaline. Its electric, neon blue, blue-green and green colours come from copper (often with manganese), which no other tourmaline contains in meaningful amounts. Good Paraiba seems to glow from inside, even in low light.
It was discovered in the late 1980s in the state of Paraíba in Brazil, and early Brazilian stones caused a sensation in the trade. Copper-bearing tourmaline was later found in Nigeria and in Mozambique. Today most gem laboratories use “Paraiba tourmaline” as a variety name for copper-bearing elbaite with the typical neon colours, wherever it was mined, and many will add an origin opinion. Brazilian origin carries the highest premium, followed by Mozambique.
What makes a fine Paraiba: a vivid, neon “swimming pool” or “windex” blue to blue-green, high saturation, brightness and as little visible inclusion as possible. Paraiba is usually included, and clean stones over a few carats are very rare.
Paraiba is where buyers lose the most money, so here is the short checklist I give everyone.
1. Ask for a laboratory report that confirms copper. Without it, the stone is “blue tourmaline” at best.
2. Check the glow in low light. Real copper-bearing tourmaline keeps a lively, neon look even in shade. Many imitations go flat and inky.
3. Expect inclusions. Clean Paraiba is rare. A large, flawless, neon “Paraiba” at a modest price is a warning sign.
4. Ask about filling. Many Paraiba stones have filled fractures. It should be stated in writing and on the report.
5. Know the origin claim. “Brazilian Paraiba” is worth far more than Mozambique or Nigeria. If a seller claims Brazil, the report should support it.
6. Compare with known stones. In Bangkok you can see Paraiba from several sources side by side. We are happy to show you the differences.
Rubellite
Rubellite is the trade name for red to deep pink tourmaline that keeps its red colour under both daylight and warm indoor light. Many pink tourmalines turn brownish or orangey indoors. A true rubellite does not. Fine rubellite is a rich raspberry to ruby red. It is usually included, and the trade accepts eye-visible inclusions at lower prices.
Pink tourmaline
Pink tourmaline ranges from pale baby pink to vivid hot pink. It is one of the most popular colours for jewellery, more affordable than rubellite and usually cleaner. Brazil, Nigeria, Mozambique, Afghanistan and Madagascar are key sources.
Indicolite (blue tourmaline)
Indicolite is blue to blue-green tourmaline coloured by iron, not copper. It ranges from steely blue to teal and deep sapphire-like blue. Fine indicolite with a clear, bright blue and no grey is rare and valuable. Many indicolites are heated to lighten a dark colour.
Green tourmaline (verdelite) and chrome tourmaline
Green is the most common tourmaline colour, from mint and olive to forest green. Chrome tourmaline, from Tanzania and Kenya, owes its vivid green to chromium and vanadium and can look like fine emerald or tsavorite. Mint green tourmaline from Afghanistan and Nigeria is popular for its fresh, light colour.
Bicolour and watermelon tourmaline
Tourmaline crystals often change colour along their length. Cut lengthways, they give bicolour or tricolour stones, typically pink and green. Slice the crystal across, and you get watermelon tourmaline: a pink core surrounded by a green rim, just like a slice of watermelon. These stones are loved by designers and are very good value.
Canary and yellow tourmaline
Bright canary yellow tourmaline, coloured by manganese, came mainly from Malawi. It is uncommon and has a cheerful, saturated look.
Cat’s eye tourmaline
Some tourmaline contains fine parallel tubes that create a cat’s eye effect when cut as a cabochon. Green and pink cat’s eye tourmaline are affordable collector stones.
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Alt: A slice of natural watermelon tourmaline with a pink centre and a green outer rim
How to judge tourmaline colour
1. Hue. Is it the colour the variety should be? Paraiba should be neon blue to blue-green. Rubellite should stay red indoors.
2. Tone. Tourmaline often runs dark, especially greens and blues. Look for medium tones that stay bright.
3. Saturation. Vivid colour costs more. Grey or brownish casts lower value.
4. Pleochroism and cut orientation. Look at the stone from several angles. A well-oriented stone shows its best colour face up.
5. Day and night. Check colour in daylight and in warm indoor light. Rubellite and pink tourmaline can shift.
Tourmaline treatments
Tourmaline is often treated. Treatment is acceptable when disclosed; it becomes a problem only when hidden.
• Heat. Common. Used to lighten dark green and blue stones, and to remove purple or grey from Paraiba to reveal a purer neon blue. Generally stable.
• Irradiation. Used to intensify pink and red colours. Hard to detect, generally stable, and widely accepted in the trade.
• Fracture filling. Resins or oils are sometimes used to fill surface-reaching fractures, especially in rubellite and Paraiba. Filling improves apparent clarity but can be damaged by heat and solvents. It must be disclosed.
• Imitations of Paraiba. Blue glass, blue apatite, blue topaz, synthetic spinel and lab-grown materials are sometimes sold as “Paraiba”. Copper-free blue tourmaline is also sometimes passed off as Paraiba. Only laboratory testing for copper can confirm a Paraiba.
Our rule: every tourmaline is invoiced with its variety and any known treatment before you pay. For any Paraiba, and for rubellite and indicolite over a couple of carats, we recommend a report from GIT or AIGS, both minutes from our office at JTC. Read how labs approach this in our article on what gemmology schools see when they grade a stone.
Clarity, cut and carat weight
Clarity
Tourmaline clarity expectations depend on the variety.
• Usually clean (type I): Green tourmaline. You should expect eye-clean stones.
• Usually slightly included (type II): Pink, blue and bicolour tourmaline. Small inclusions are common and acceptable.
• Usually included (type III): Rubellite and Paraiba. Eye-visible inclusions are normal and priced in. A clean rubellite or Paraiba commands a big premium.
Cut
Tourmaline crystals are long and prism-shaped, so emerald cuts, long cushions, ovals and baguettes are common, and they make good use of the rough. Because of pleochroism, the cutter’s orientation choice matters a lot. Paraiba is often cut in ovals, cushions and pears to maximise glow.
Carat weight
Pink, green and bicolour tourmaline are available in large sizes at reasonable prices. Fine Paraiba, rubellite and indicolite become rare above three to five carats.
Where the best tourmaline comes from
Brazil — The original Paraiba; pink, green, blue and bicolour from Minas Gerais
Mozambique — Copper-bearing Paraiba-type tourmaline, often larger and cleaner than Brazilian
Nigeria — Paraiba-type, pink, rubellite and bicolour tourmaline
Afghanistan and Pakistan — Mint green, blue, pink and bicolour crystals
Madagascar — Pink, rubellite, bicolour and multicolour
Namibia — Green, blue and pink
Tanzania and Kenya — Chrome tourmaline
Malawi — Canary yellow
USA — Historic pink and bicolour from California and Maine
Tourmaline vs other stones of the same colour
If you want: Neon blue-green · Tourmaline option: Paraiba · Alternatives: Apatite, blue zircon, lab-grown Paraiba · What to know: Only copper-bearing tourmaline is Paraiba; apatite is much softer
If you want: Red · Tourmaline option: Rubellite · Alternatives: Ruby, red spinel, rhodolite garnet · What to know: Ruby and spinel are harder; rubellite is usually more included
If you want: Pink · Tourmaline option: Pink tourmaline · Alternatives: Pink sapphire, pink spinel, morganite · What to know: Tourmaline gives large sizes at low prices
If you want: Green · Tourmaline option: Chrome or mint tourmaline · Alternatives: Emerald, tsavorite · What to know: Tourmaline is usually cleaner than emerald and not oiled
If you want: Blue · Tourmaline option: Indicolite · Alternatives: Sapphire, blue zircon, aquamarine · What to know: Indicolite runs dark and teal; sapphire is harder
Tourmaline’s strengths are colour range, size and value. Its weaknesses compared with sapphire and spinel are hardness and the frequency of treatment. For a stone you will wear on your hand every day for decades, compare it with spinel or pink sapphire. For earrings, pendants and statement rings, tourmaline is hard to beat.
Tourmaline price per carat in 2026
These are typical Bangkok retail ranges for natural, faceted tourmaline from 1 to 5 carats with a good cut. Clarity expectations follow the type of each variety. Exceptional colour, larger sizes and laboratory reports cost more.
Green tourmaline — $40 to $200
Mint green tourmaline — $80 to $300
Pink tourmaline — $50 to $400
Bicolour and watermelon — $50 to $400
Chrome tourmaline — $150 to $600
Rubellite, fine — $200 to $1,000
Indicolite, fine blue — $200 to $1,500
Canary yellow — $150 to $700
Paraiba, Mozambique or Nigeria, with report — $1,000 to $15,000+
Paraiba, Brazil, with report — $5,000 to $50,000+
What moves the price:
1. Variety. Paraiba is in a different price world from every other tourmaline.
2. Colour intensity and purity. Neon saturation in Paraiba and true red in rubellite drive value.
3. Clarity relative to type. Clean Paraiba and rubellite carry big premiums.
4. Origin. Brazilian Paraiba carries the highest premium.
5. Treatment. Fracture filling lowers value; heat and irradiation are priced in.
If you love the neon look of Paraiba but not the price, our article on lab-grown Paraiba tourmaline at honest prices explains the lab-grown alternative. This page covers natural tourmaline only.
What your budget buys
• Under $200: A bright green or light pink tourmaline of one to three carats, or a small bicolour.
• $200 to $1,000: A vivid pink tourmaline of three to five carats, a good bicolour emerald cut, a mint green stone, or a small chrome tourmaline.
• $1,000 to $5,000: A fine rubellite or indicolite of three to five carats, a watermelon slice for a pendant, or a small Mozambique Paraiba of under one carat with a report.
• $5,000 to $20,000: A Mozambique or Nigerian Paraiba of one to three carats with strong neon colour and a report.
• Over $20,000: Brazilian Paraiba, or large, very clean neon Paraiba from Mozambique.
Tourmaline size guide
Tourmaline has a medium density, close to emerald. Approximate weights for well-cut emerald-cut and oval tourmaline:
Size (mm): 7 x 5 · Emerald cut (ct): 1.0 · Oval (ct): 0.8
Size (mm): 8 x 6 · Emerald cut (ct): 1.6 · Oval (ct): 1.2
Size (mm): 9 x 7 · Emerald cut (ct): 2.4 · Oval (ct): 1.8
Size (mm): 10 x 8 · Emerald cut (ct): 3.4 · Oval (ct): 2.6
Size (mm): 12 x 10 · Emerald cut (ct): 6.0 · Oval (ct): 4.5
Size (mm): 14 x 10 · Emerald cut (ct): 7.5 · Oval (ct): 5.5
How to buy tourmaline safely in Bangkok
1. Always get a report for Paraiba. Copper content can only be confirmed by a laboratory. Without a report, assume it is not Paraiba.
2. Ask about filling. Especially for rubellite and Paraiba, ask whether fractures have been filled.
3. Check rubellite indoors. If a red stone turns brown under warm light, it is pink tourmaline, not rubellite, and should be priced that way.
4. Look from several angles. Pleochroism can make a stone look great from one angle and dark from another.
5. Buy from an established dealer. Avoid any shop a stranger or tuk-tuk driver takes you to.
6. Never buy to resell. No honest dealer will promise you a profit back home.
For more, read why Bangkok is one of the world’s best places to buy gemstones and our how to buy page.
Common tourmaline buying mistakes
1. Paying Paraiba prices for blue tourmaline. Copper-free indicolite can be beautiful, but it is not Paraiba.
2. Buying “rubellite” that browns indoors. Test it under warm light before you agree a price.
3. Ignoring fillings in included stones. Filled rubellite and Paraiba need different care and are worth less.
4. Choosing a dark green. Many green tourmalines look black indoors. Medium tones are more beautiful and often cheaper per carat than you expect.
5. Expecting flawless rubellite. Rubellite is a type III stone. A few inclusions are normal; focus on colour.
From mine to Bangkok: how tourmaline reaches JTC
Most tourmaline is mined from pegmatites, coarse-grained granite pockets, by small-scale miners in Brazil, Africa and Afghanistan. Paraiba-type tourmaline from Mozambique and Nigeria is often found in alluvial deposits. Rough is sold through trading hubs in Brazil’s Minas Gerais, in Nampula and other centres in Mozambique, and in Peshawar for Afghan and Pakistani material.
Much of it then travels to Thailand and to cutting centres in India and Germany. Bangkok and Chanthaburi cutters handle large volumes of pink, green and bicolour tourmaline, and Bangkok dealers trade Paraiba from all three copper-bearing sources. In the offices of JTC and the streets of Silom, buyers from Hong Kong, India, Europe, the US and the Middle East compare stones side by side, which is why Bangkok prices are usually well below retail abroad.
Buying tourmaline remotely
Tourmaline colour is hard to judge on a screen, especially Paraiba’s glow and rubellite’s red. When clients buy from abroad, this is what we send, and what you should ask any dealer for:
1. A daylight video turning the stone near a window, to show true colour and pleochroism.
2. An indoor warm-light video, especially for rubellite and pink tourmaline, to show whether the colour holds.
3. A loupe photo or video for included stones, so you can see what the inclusions look like before you pay.
4. Measurements and weight in millimetres and carats, so a setting can be designed properly.
5. The variety and treatment statement, plus a laboratory report for Paraiba and fine rubellite or indicolite.
If a dealer will not send these, keep looking.
Why buy tourmaline from us
There are many honest tourmaline dealers in Bangkok. Here is how we work.
• Family trade since 1990. KC Gems House was built by my father, KC Gupta, who began trading coloured stones in Bangkok in 1990. I am the second generation. Read more on our family business page and my page.
• Inside JTC, at trade level. Our office is in the Jewelry Trade Center on Silom Road, where the professional trade buys.
• Variety and treatment in writing. “Paraiba”, “rubellite” and “indicolite” mean something specific. We write the variety and treatment on the invoice, and we only call a stone Paraiba when a laboratory confirms copper.
• Reports on request. GIT and AIGS are a short walk away; AIGS is in the same building.
• We source across the building. If we do not hold the tourmaline you want, we show you stones from dealers we have known for years.
• Set here. We set tourmaline in 10k, 14k and 18k gold with protective settings. See custom jewellery in Bangkok or start a custom order.
• Worldwide shipping. Daylight videos and photos before you pay, and insured shipping to the UK, Europe, the US and the Middle East.
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Alt: A neon blue Paraiba tourmaline ring with a diamond halo in 18k white gold made in Bangkok
Tourmaline jewellery ideas
• Paraiba halo rings. A neon Paraiba with a white diamond halo is one of the most striking rings you can wear.
• Bicolour emerald-cut rings. An elongated pink-green bicolour shows off both colours in a simple east-west setting. See our article on east-west engagement rings.
• Watermelon slice pendants. A thin slice in a bezel shows the pink core and green rim.
• Pink tourmaline stacking rings. Affordable, bright and easy to wear.
• Rubellite cocktail rings. A large rubellite in yellow gold is a classic statement piece.
• Mixed tourmaline tennis bracelets. Rainbow tourmaline lines work beautifully in bracelets like our coloured gemstone tennis design.
Caring for tourmaline
• Durability: 7 to 7.5 on the Mohs scale. Good for earrings, pendants and rings with reasonable care.
• Cleaning: Warm water, mild soap, soft brush. Avoid ultrasonic and steam cleaning, especially for filled or included stones.
• Heat: Avoid sudden temperature changes. Tell your jeweller before any repair, especially for filled stones.
• Dust: Tourmaline’s electrical charge can make it attract dust. A quick wipe brings back the sparkle.
• Storage: Keep separately from harder stones like sapphire and diamond.
Tourmaline for wholesale buyers
We supply calibrated pink, green and bicolour tourmaline, matched pairs, mixed rainbow layouts for bracelets and necklaces, and single fine stones including Paraiba with reports. Tell us the variety, sizes, quantity and budget, and we will prepare a parcel with videos. See our wholesale page.
ทัวร์มาลีนแท้ และพาราอิบา ที่ JTC สีลม
ทัวร์มาลีน (Tourmaline) เป็นพลอยธรรมชาติที่มีสีหลากหลายที่สุดในโลก ทั้งสีชมพู สีแดงรูเบลไลต์ สีเขียว สีฟ้าอินดิโคไลต์ และสองสีชมพูเขียวที่เรียกว่าแตงโม
พาราอิบา (Paraiba) คือทัวร์มาลีนที่มีทองแดง ให้สีฟ้าเขียวสดเรืองแสงแบบนีออน พบครั้งแรกที่รัฐปาราอิบา ประเทศบราซิล และต่อมาพบในไนจีเรียและโมซัมบิก พาราอิบาแท้ต้องตรวจยืนยันทองแดงด้วยห้องแล็บเท่านั้น
ทัวร์มาลีนบางชนิดผ่านการเผา การฉายรังสี หรือการอุดรอยร้าว ซึ่งต้องแจ้งให้ลูกค้าทราบทุกครั้ง
เราคือ KC Gems House ค้าพลอยในกรุงเทพฯ มาตั้งแต่ปี 1990 สำนักงานอยู่ในอาคาร Jewelry Trade Center ถนนสีลม เราแจ้งชนิดและการปรับปรุงคุณภาพเป็นลายลักษณ์อักษรก่อนชำระเงิน ส่งตรวจใบรับรองจาก GIT หรือ AIGS ได้ และรับทำแหวน จี้ ต่างหู และสร้อยข้อมือ ด้วยทอง 10K 14K และ 18K
Frequently asked questions about tourmaline
What is Paraiba tourmaline?
Paraiba tourmaline is copper-bearing elbaite tourmaline with vivid neon blue, blue-green or green colour. It was first found in Paraíba, Brazil in the late 1980s, and later in Nigeria and Mozambique. A laboratory report is needed to confirm copper and the Paraiba name.
How much does Paraiba tourmaline cost per carat?
In Bangkok, Mozambique and Nigerian Paraiba with a laboratory report runs about $1,000 to $15,000 or more per carat depending on colour, clarity and size. Brazilian Paraiba runs about $5,000 to $50,000 or more per carat.
What is the difference between pink tourmaline and rubellite?
Rubellite is red to deep pink tourmaline that stays red in both daylight and warm indoor light. Pink tourmaline that turns brownish or orangey indoors is not rubellite. Rubellite is more valuable.
Is tourmaline treated?
Often. Heat and irradiation are common and generally stable. Fracture filling is used on some rubellite and Paraiba. All treatments should be disclosed.
Is tourmaline good for an engagement ring?
It can be, with a protective setting. Tourmaline is 7 to 7.5 on the Mohs scale, so it is less durable than sapphire or diamond but fine for careful daily wear.
What is watermelon tourmaline?
A slice of tourmaline crystal with a pink centre and a green outer rim, like a slice of watermelon. It forms when the crystal’s chemistry changed as it grew.
Where is the best place to buy tourmaline in Bangkok?
From established dealers in and around the Jewelry Trade Center (JTC) on Silom Road. Ask for the variety and treatment in writing, and always get a laboratory report for Paraiba. Our office is inside JTC.
Why does my tourmaline look different from different angles?
That is pleochroism. Tourmaline shows different colours or depths of colour along different crystal directions. A good cutter orients the stone to show its best colour face up.
What is tourmaline called in Thai?
Tourmaline is ทัวร์มาลีน in Thai. Paraiba tourmaline is พาราอิบา.
Do you ship tourmaline internationally?
Yes. We send daylight videos, photos and reports before payment and ship insured worldwide.
Talk to us about tourmaline
Tell us the variety, colour, size and budget, and we will send real daylight videos with the variety and treatment confirmed. Visit us at JTC, or buy remotely.
Ask about a tourmaline
Explore other natural stones: spinel, garnet, zircon, star sapphire, pink and padparadscha sapphire, amethyst and citrine and cat’s eye chrysoberyl. Or go back to all natural gemstones.