The Different Colours of Tourmaline
Read designer Emily's advice and learn what different colours tourmaline comes in and how to use it in your jewellery.
Did you know a tourmaline comes in colours other than green? In fact, they have rather a distinct variety to them.
Aside from their well-known vibrant “chrome” green, they can also be bi-colour, watermelon, plum and shades of pastel and blush. These colours aren’t seen in many other gemstones- especially on the high street. When opting for colour, most jewellers use sapphire, emeralds and rubies. This means tourmaline often slips under the radar…But not with us!
When it comes to choosing your tourmaline, it’s of course important to consider personal taste as well as knowing what’s available. But you are certainly spoilt for choice.
Colour
Bi-colour is similar to what you may know as an ombré look, where a darker colour gradually blends to a lighter shade. This features in the ‘Watermelon’ with the signature red and green of a watermelon, graduating from one to the other across the gemstone. It is really striking and so beautiful! This can also be in blush and plums, which have such warming tones.
Metal Options
The range in colours of tourmaline thus offers a versatility in metal colour choice too. White, yellow and rose metals all give a different feel to the gemstones that are set within it. Depending on whether it is light or warm, the colour compatibility shows different hues in different lights: you’ll never tire of the majesty of a tourmaline.
Of course, if you’re feeling particularly adventurous you could create contrast and mix metals to maximise those unique hues as much as possible.
Shape
In terms of shape, as it grows in a column-like structure, tourmaline lends itself well to straight or tapered cuts, such as baguettes, octagon cut and elongated cushions. This offers more opportunity to get the right cut to show off the colour range in all its glory. The vibrancy and graduation of colours can stand out more in larger cuts- meaning it’s a marvellous choice for a real statement piece.
Tourmaline and Diamond
Opting for a tourmaline as the central pop of colour and pairing it with a diamond is a fabulous design choice. It allows the diamonds to sparkle with their signature fire and colourlessness, creating different dimensions to the ring.
The hard part is now deciding: which different colours of tourmaline will represent you!