Paraiba Tourmaline Jewelry in Bangkok

Paraiba tourmaline is the neon gemstone: a glowing turquoise, electric blue or mint green that seems to light up from inside. It is a rare copper-bearing tourmaline, first found in Brazil in the late 1980s, and it quickly became one of the most wanted colored stones in the world. Even a small Paraiba brings a color that no other gem quite matches. We set natural Paraiba tourmaline in 925 sterling silver and solid gold at our studio on Sukhumvit 71, Bangkok.

This page covers what Paraiba tourmaline is, where its glow comes from, how it compares with other blue and green gems, how to wear and care for it, what makes a good stone, how to see the stones at our shop, and how to order in Bangkok or anywhere in Thailand.

What Paraiba tourmaline is

Paraiba tourmaline is a variety of elbaite, one of the species in the large tourmaline family. What sets it apart is copper. Ordinary tourmaline gets its blue and green from iron, but in Paraiba the color comes mainly from copper, often with some manganese. Copper gives the vivid, saturated neon blue to green that makes these stones so recognizable.

The name comes from the state of Paraíba in northeastern Brazil, where miners found the first stones in the late 1980s. Similar copper-bearing tourmaline was later found in Nigeria and Mozambique. In the gem trade today, “Paraiba tourmaline” describes the copper-bearing stone and its color, not only the Brazilian origin. A lab report can state the origin when that matters to you.

Heating is common for Paraiba tourmaline. Many stones contain a purple or pink tone from manganese, and gentle heating removes it to leave a cleaner blue or green. The result is stable and permanent. Some stones also have their small fractures filled to improve clarity. Every stone we set is natural, and if a stone has had any treatment we tell you before you order.

Paraiba tourmaline facts at a glance

• Color: neon turquoise, electric blue, blue green and mint green
• Hardness: 7 to 7.5 on the Mohs scale
• Treatment: heating is common; some stones are clarity enhanced; we tell you before you order
• Best for: pendants, earrings and rings, often as a small accent or center stone
• Care: warm soapy water and a soft brush; no ultrasonic cleaners, steam or high heat
• Price: depends on the quality and carat you choose; we quote before you order

Paraiba tourmaline and other blue and green gems

Other blue and green tourmaline is the same mineral family, colored by iron rather than copper. It is lovely and much more affordable, but its blue and green are darker and quieter, without the neon glow of Paraiba.

Aquamarine is the blue beryl, 7.5 to 8 on the Mohs scale. Its blue is soft and watery, and it costs far less than Paraiba.

Chrome tourmaline is a vivid green tourmaline colored by chromium and vanadium. It is a deeper emerald green, while green Paraiba is a lighter, brighter mint.

Emerald is the classic green gem. It is a deeper, grassier green and usually more included, while Paraiba has a lighter, glowing blue green.

How to wear and care for Paraiba tourmaline

At 7 to 7.5 on the Mohs scale, Paraiba tourmaline is hard enough for pendants, earrings and rings. Most Paraibas are small, so they often sit at the heart of a ring or pendant surrounded by a halo, or as bright accents next to other stones. Tourmaline can be a little brittle, and Paraiba often has inclusions, so for a ring you wear every day a setting that protects the stone is a good idea. Take it off for the gym and heavy work.

Clean it in warm soapy water with a soft brush, then rinse and dry. Never use an ultrasonic cleaner or steam, especially on a clarity enhanced stone, and keep it away from high heat. Store it apart from harder stones. If it ever needs a polish or a check of the setting, bring it to our shop. Maintenance is free on jewelry we made.

What makes a good Paraiba tourmaline

Color is by far the most important. The most valued stones show an intense neon blue or turquoise that looks almost lit from inside. Strong saturation counts for more than anything else. Lighter, softer blue green stones are still beautiful and cost less.

Clarity is judged gently. Paraiba tourmaline almost always has some inclusions, and the trade accepts them. A stone that looks clean to the eye is a bonus, but a vivid color with small inclusions is usually worth more than a clean stone with a weak color.

Cut brings out the glow. A well cut stone shows even color and plenty of light across the face. Many Paraibas are cut to keep as much weight as possible from rare rough, so cut quality varies a lot.

Size matters a great deal. Most Paraiba tourmaline is under one carat, and stones over a few carats with fine color are very rare. The price rises sharply with size.

Where Paraiba tourmaline comes from

The first Paraiba tourmaline came from the state of Paraíba in Brazil, and some later came from the neighboring state of Rio Grande do Norte. Copper-bearing tourmaline was then found in Nigeria and, in larger amounts, in Mozambique, which supplies much of the Paraiba on the market today. Brazilian stones are the most famous and often the most saturated, but fine stones come from all three countries. If you want to know the origin of a particular stone, ask us: we offer certified stones, and an uncertified stone can be sent to a gem lab for a report at extra cost.

See paraiba tourmaline at our shop in Bangkok

Paraiba glows as if lit from inside, and that neon color, from mint green to electric blue, is far easier to judge in hand than on a screen. Say Paraiba when you book and we will set aside more stones in different shades and sizes, so you can balance color and size, the two things that count most here.

Walk in any time we are open, or book ahead so Yaron is there to help with the stone, the design and the metal, from 925 silver and gold plating to solid 9K, 14K or 18K gold.

Because most Paraibas are small and suit a halo or an accent setting, buying one loose and planning around it works well. Jewelry is optional, and we would be very happy to make the piece for you.

Not in Bangkok? Message us and we will send photos and prices of the paraiba tourmaline we have.

Paraiba tourmaline questions we get

Is your Paraiba tourmaline natural?

Yes. Every gemstone we set is natural, Paraiba tourmaline included. Many Paraibas are heated to remove a purple tone, and some are clarity enhanced. Both are common in the trade, and we tell you about any treatment before you order. We are a member of the Thai Gem and Jewelry Traders Association.

Does Paraiba tourmaline have to come from Brazil?

No. In the gem trade the name describes copper-bearing tourmaline with this neon color, and it is also found in Mozambique and Nigeria. A lab report can state the origin if that matters to you.

What makes Paraiba tourmaline glow?

Copper. Most tourmaline gets its color from iron, but Paraiba is colored mainly by copper, often with some manganese, which gives it its vivid neon blue to green.

Why is Paraiba tourmaline so expensive?

It is rare. The mines are few, most stones are small, and fine neon color in a larger stone is very hard to find. That rarity makes it one of the most valued tourmalines.

How much does Paraiba tourmaline jewelry cost?

It depends on the quality and carat of the stone you choose, and on the metal. We give you the price before anything is made.

Can I buy just the stone?

Yes. You may purchase a Paraiba tourmaline as a loose stone, with no jewelry required. We are happy to set it for you now or at a later date, as a center stone or as an accent.

How long does a Paraiba tourmaline piece take?

7 to 10 working days from your order, because the stones are already here in our shop, then 1 to 3 working days for delivery inside Thailand. We also ship abroad by FedEx.

Every Paraiba tourmaline piece is made to order by our team in Bangkok in 925 sterling silver or solid gold, with a 3-year warranty, free maintenance and free shipping across Thailand.