Paraíba is the origin of one of the most extraordinary gemstone discoveries of the 20th century: the neon blue-green Paraíba tourmaline, colored by copper and manganese. These electric, almost glowing tourmalines are among the rarest and most valuable colored stones in the world, with top specimens commanding over $50,000 per carat. The original deposit in the São José da Batalha mine is nearly depleted, making authentic Brazilian Paraíba stones extremely scarce.
Historique
Heitor Dimas Barbosa discovered the first Paraíba tourmalines in 1989 after years of persistent exploration in the hills of Paraíba state. The announcement caused a sensation in the gem world, and prices rose astronomically as the deposit's limited extent became apparent.
Notable Gems
Paraíba Tourmaline