Identification of tourmaline

Tourmaline is one of the preferred jewelry people choose nowadays for its rich colors and magical effect.

However, how to identify and purchase tourmaline? Similar to Rubelite, there are ruby, red spinel, spodumene, rosy topaz, red beryl, lilac crystal and so on. Similar to green tourmaline, there are diopside, emerald and green beryl. Similar to blue tourmaline, there is blue spinel. Moreover, glass imitations are also one of the varieties that are easily confused with tourmaline.

In identification of tourmaline, pay attention to the following key points,

1. The density of tourmaline (3.06) is big, and it is heavier than crystal and glass with the hand

2. Rich colors. Tourmaline is one of the most colorful gems. There are different colors on the same crystalline, such as yellow and green, rich and yellow, red and blue.

3. Obvious pleochroism. When observed under transmitted ray from different angles, the color tone and brightness of the tourmaline will change, while the change of amethyst is not obvious and the glass has no change.

4. Obvious birefraction. The refraction index is 1.616-1.650, and its birefraction is 0.044. observe tourmaline by magnifying glass, its facet arrises on the back and impurities appears obvious ghost effect.

5. Electrostatic effect. Tourmaline has thermoelectricity. When it is heated by friction, it can take up fine dust and scraps of paper.

6. Inclusion. The inclusions of the tourmaline are aligned linear and the tubular gas-liquid; most of the inclusions of crystal and topaz are in irregular spots and feathering; and the glass has bubble and swirl inclusions.

7. Growth lines. As for natural tourmaline, arc triangle cylindrical surface and growth lines parallel the cylinder extension is major characteristics distinguishing the tourmaline from crystal and beryl.  

The purchase of tourmaline

The key points as follows,

1. Color. The tourmaline is red and blue is more precious, and the yellow and green tourmaline are more common. When choose mosaic tourmaline jewelry, the red, blue and green tourmaline is better, and the colors should be uniform and gorgeous. When choose necklace and bracelet, the more colorful, the better; and the colors of each bead are different, collocation of red, yellow, blue, green, purple and other colors.

2. Transparency. Tourmaline should be crystal clear, the more transparent, and the better quality.  There should be no mist or opacity.

3. Purity. Tourmaline is relatively brittle, and easy to have fissures. Large quantity of inclusions, fissures and inclusions influence the transparency, color and fire. The pure tourmaline is very rare and is top grade. When choose, the pure is better.

4. Choose tourmaline with specific properties. The colors of tourmaline are rich. Tourmaline with two colors or more colors appear on the same crystalline, that is bi-colored tourmaline or multi-colored tourmaline, are precious, especially, the watermelon tourmaline with inside red and outside green. Moreover, the cat’s eye tourmaline is top grade.

People believe that tourmaline has magic natural power, for its rich and changeable colors, and magic piezoelectricity and thermoelectricity. Long-term wear not only can make people’s life colorful, but also bring good luck, peace and happiness, and health. Nowadays, the bracelets, necklaces, pendants, rings, brooch, eardrops emerge at the right moment, and develop new. They decorate the jewelry world which predominated by white K gold and platinum jewelry in the past more gorgeous and colorful.

The spiritual role of tourmaline

Green Bixi (verdelite)

Verdelite corresponding to the heart chakra is a gem stone that can make people happy and satisfied, and it is also called stone of wealth.

1. Green light represents light of wealth. It can make people happy; good-naturedness is a source of wealth.

2. Green light can help people make friends, and easy to get boss’s appreciation and help.

3. It can get rid of worries, depression and unhappiness, and bring happiness; it is useful for depression, infantile autism and self-deniers.

4. It can help people who work with unwillingness find the fun of work, and can get the pleasure of self-actualization by doing one’s best in work.  

Red Bixi (red and pink tourmaline)

The red hue of tourmaline is widely distributed, from pink to peach blossom. A few deep red tourmalines is similar to ruby, and its energy can make people warm, bold, cheerful and comfortable, corresponding to heart chakra.

1. Giving rose tourmaline to the opposite sex is a good way to express one’s love; wearing red tourmaline can bring in wonderful love and ideal partner, and it can make the conjugal relationship more harmonious.

2. When others are prejudiced against you, the red tourmaline can improve relationships with each other. When the relationship between you and others is aloof, it can reinforce each other’s popularity. Meanwhile, it can eliminate one’s indifference, aloof and proud, eccentricity and various abnormal psychologies, and make people easy to get along with.

3. It can help give out personal charm, strengthen leadership for those who often need to deal with the public, thus those can attract more popularity and get people’s support.

4. As for the women who love beauty, it is said that the tourmaline can maintain beauty and keep young.

Watermelon Bixi (watermelon tourmaline)

Watermelon tourmaline is a kind of tourmaline with inside red and outside green, like watermelon. Hence comes the name. Its quantity is rare, so the price is expensive. It is said that Empress Dowager Cixi put watermelon tourmaline under her pillow.

1. It helps eliminate all the conflict, contradiction, complex in one heart, and make people happy.

2. For those who are in complex relationships and have conflict of emotions, it can help dissolve the myth and find the truth. For those who are sentimental, it helps find true love.

3. For publicists, salesperson, shop assistant and reception personnel, wearing watermelon tourmaline can help extend service and strengthen communication.

Tourmaline is mother of crystal. It is said that wearing one tourmaline necklace tantamount to ten thousands of crystal necklace. Its strong functions and large magnetic field can gather wealth; achieve successful career, and wide to knot popularity. It is designated as the October birthstone, representing happiness and peace.