Watermelon tourmaline - a pink core enclosed by a green rim - is the most recognizable of the colored tourmaline varieties, and each has its own name, color, and origin. This guide organizes the colors of tourmaline: it explains where they come from, what the individual varieties are called, and how to identify them in jewelry.
Table of contents
- Where does tourmaline get its colors?
- Watermelon tourmaline - two colours in one crystal
- Types of tourmaline and variety names
- How to identify a tourmaline variety
- Which tourmaline to choose for jewelry
- FAQ - questions about tourmaline varieties
Where does tourmaline get its colors?
Tourmaline is not a single mineral but an entire group of boron-containing silicates. That is why it is called multicolored tourmaline - the name itself comes from the Sinhalese word turamali (or toramalli), meaning “a stone of many colors.” Dutch merchants brought it to Europe under this name in the 18th century, and the name caught on.
The color depends on which elements the crystal absorbed as it grew. Iron produces black, magnesium - brown, manganese - pink and red, while copper creates the most sought-after neon blues. Mineralogists divide the group into varieties: schorl (iron-bearing, black), dravite (magnesium-bearing, brown), and elbaite (lithium-bearing) - elbaite is responsible for almost the entire colorful palette you know from jewelry.
Tourmaline also exhibits strong pleochroism: it looks different when viewed across the crystal than when viewed along its long axis - in the latter case, the color is noticeably darker. Cutters know this very well and position the stone's surface parallel to the growth axis to bring out the most beautiful shade. In practice, this means that the same tourmaline in a ring and a necklace can have noticeably different color depth.
Tourmaline in our workshop
We most often set tourmaline in everyday styles: Tourmaline Bracelet with Hamsa Hand of Fatima Charm (from PLN 145) is a classic combination of dark beads with one distinctive charm, while Tourmaline and Pyrite Hoop Earrings (from PLN 269) pair the deep black of faceted tourmaline beads with the metallic sheen of pyrite. We have gathered all our tourmaline jewelry in one place, and if you are specifically looking for wristwear, take a look at our tourmaline bracelets.
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Watermelon tourmaline - two colours in one crystal
Watermelon tourmaline is a variety of elbaite in which a single crystal changes colour radially: a pink or red core is surrounded by a green "skin". The cross-section really does resemble a slice of watermelon, which is where the name comes from. It forms when the composition of the solution from which the crystal grows changes during its formation - first a manganese-rich zone is deposited, followed by an iron-rich one. The record of this change remains permanently in the stone.
That is why watermelon tourmaline is cut differently from the rest: the crystal is cut across into thin slices, because only then are both colours visible at once. It is a demanding cut - zones with different compositions respond differently to stress, and the material is often fractured, so it is rarely possible to obtain several equally attractive slices from a single column. This is the main reason why good watermelon tourmaline is more expensive than single-colour material.
When buying, look for three things: a distinct boundary between pink and green (the blurrier it is, the less striking the stone), core symmetry, and transparency - heavily fractured slices are easier to damage when set. If you are looking for a description of the traditional meanings attributed to this variety, you will find it under tourmaline properties in our collection.
In lithotherapy, the properties of watermelon tourmaline are described as an energy of balance - it is said that this variety combines the "pink" element with the "green" one, so it resonates with the heart chakra and promotes harmony and the easing of tension. This belongs to the realm of beliefs and traditions, not medicine: no stone heals or replaces medical care.
Types of tourmaline and variety names
Commercial tourmaline names primarily describe colour, not the mineralogical species - which is why the same elbaite appears in shops under four different names. The table below brings together the varieties you will encounter most often.
| Variety | Colour | What makes it distinctive |
|---|---|---|
| Watermelon tourmaline | pink core, green rim | two-tone cross-section, cut into slices |
| Rubellite | from pastel pink to raspberry red | the most “gem-like” of the colored varieties |
| Verdelite (verdelite) | green - from spring green to bottle green | the most common colored variety in jewelry |
| Indicolite (indigolite) | blue and deep indigo | rare, valued for its saturated color |
| Paraiba tourmaline | neon blue and turquoise | copper is responsible for the color; the most expensive variety |
| Schorl (black tourmaline) | pitch black | the most common, most often worn every day |
| Dravite | brown, honey, dark yellow | magnesium-bearing, rarely used in jewelry |
| Achroite | colorless | a collector’s rarity |
Rubellite - pink and red
Manganese is responsible for rubellite’s color. Its shades range from pale pink to deep, slightly violet-red resembling ruby - and the deepest reds command the highest prices. Rubellites have visible inclusions and tiny growth marks more often than other tourmalines; in this variety, they are the norm rather than a flaw. We have written more about the pink family in a separate article about pink tourmaline.
Verdelite and indicolite - green and blue
Verdelite (also spelled “verdelite”) is the green variety of elbaite and the most common colored tourmaline used in silver settings. Green tourmaline is sometimes confused with emerald - it is slightly softer on the Mohs scale (7–7.5 versus 7.5–8), but performs better in everyday wear because it does not have the dense network of inclusions and fractures that makes emerald easy to damage. Indicolite - ranging from light blue to indigo - is much rarer and usually occurs in smaller stones; the purer the blue, without a greenish haze, the higher its value.
Paraíba - the world’s most expensive tourmaline
Discovered at the end of the 20th century in Brazil’s Paraíba state, copper-bearing elbaite glows with an incredible, almost fluorescent blue. The deposits are tiny, and stones with a good color command higher prices than many classic gemstones. It is practically never seen in natural stone jewelry - but it is worth knowing because it sets the top price range for the entire group.
Schorl - black tourmaline
The most common variety and also the one most often worn: iron-rich schorl is opaque, velvety black, and exceptionally well suited to everyday wear. It is what “tourmaline” usually refers to in most bracelets. You can find a deeper exploration of the topic - including protective traditions and ways to wear it - in the article about black tourmaline.
How to identify a tourmaline variety
Color alone can be misleading, because a trade name describes the color, not the composition. Start by examining the stone against the light from both sides: tourmaline is strongly pleochroic, so along the crystal's long axis it looks noticeably darker than across it. Glass and dyed imitations will not show this change - it is the simplest home test.
The second clue is hardness: tourmaline measures 7-7.5 on the Mohs scale, making it cool to the touch, heavy, and resistant to minor scratches. The third, most striking clue comes from its rare physical property - tourmaline is pyroelectric and piezoelectric. When heated in the sun or rubbed, it accumulates an electric charge and begins to attract tiny specks of dust or scraps of paper. This was the property that amazed Europe in the 18th century.
Finally, inclusions. Natural tourmalines almost always contain tiny fractures, veils, and inclusions - in rubellite and watermelon stones, they are practically the rule. A perfectly clear, inexpensive "tourmaline" with an intense color is suspicious precisely because it is too perfect.
Which tourmaline to choose for jewelry
If you are looking for an everyday stone, choose schorl. It is durable, goes with everything, and is the easiest to match. If you want a color that draws attention, choose rubellite or verdelite; both look great in silver and are much more readily available than indicolite. Treat watermelon tourmaline as a stone for a special occasion: it is decorative, distinctive, and naturally one of a kind, because no two identical slices exist.
A practical note on settings: thin slices and heavily fractured stones are better suited to necklaces or earrings than to rings that knock against keyboards and door handles every day. Wash colorful tourmalines in lukewarm water with mild soap, and avoid ultrasonic cleaners and sudden temperature changes - the stone does not like thermal shock. Read about what tradition attributes to each color in our guide to tourmaline.
FAQ - questions about tourmaline varieties
What does tourmaline mean and where did its name come from?
The name comes from the Sinhalese language, from the word turamali (or toramalli), which meant “stone of many colors” or a mixture of precious stones. It reached Europe along with the first specimens brought from Sri Lanka by Dutch merchants in the 18th century. Symbolically, tourmaline today primarily represents multicoloredness and changeability, while tradition ascribes separate meanings to individual varieties - we have collected them in the properties of tourmaline.
How many types of tourmaline are there?
Mineralogically, tourmaline is an entire group of boron silicates comprising several dozen species, but in jewelry you will encounter a few: schorl (black), elbaite and its colorful varieties - rubellite, verdelite, indicolite, watermelon tourmaline, Paraiba, and colorless achroite - as well as brown dravite. Variety names describe color, not chemical composition.
Why does watermelon tourmaline have two colors?
During the crystal's growth, the composition of the solution from which it formed changed: first, a manganese-rich zone was deposited (pink and red), followed by an iron-rich zone (green). Both zones become visible only after the crystal is cut across, which is why watermelon tourmaline is cut into thin slices.
Which tourmaline is the most expensive?
Paraiba - a copper-bearing elbaite with a neon-blue color, originally from the Brazilian state of Paraíba. Due to its tiny deposits, it commands higher prices than many classic gemstones. Among the varieties available on a regular basis, well-colored rubellites and attractive watermelon tourmaline slices are the most expensive.
How to identify genuine tourmaline?
View the stone under light from two sides - due to its strong pleochroism, it looks darker along the crystal axis than across it. Genuine tourmaline is also cool and heavy (7-7.5 on the Mohs scale), has natural inclusions, and can attract tiny dust particles when heated or rubbed due to its pyroelectric and piezoelectric properties.
How to care for tourmaline jewelry?
Rinse the stone with lukewarm running water and a little mild soap. Avoid chemicals, ultrasonic cleaners, and sudden temperature changes. In the tradition of lithotherapy, stones are also “cleansed” in moonlight or sage smoke - this is part of a ritual and belief system, not a maintenance treatment.
Read also: The Truth About Tourmaline: The Secret of a Powerful Amulet