Tourmaline, nicknamed the "stone of a thousand colors", comes in a variety of hues from black to pink, green and blue, and is found mainly in Afghanistan, Brazil and Tanzania. Although each color has its own specific characteristics, black tourmaline is the most common and is often used for its protection against negative energies.
The name of this fine stone comes from Sinhalese, the official language of Sri Lanka, "turamali", meaning"stone of a thousand colors".
In ancient times, tourmaline was used by the Egyptians and Greeks as an ornamental stone. As for the Romans, they were convinced of its protective power, which is why they wore it as a talisman. During this period, black tourmaline was also associated with magic and sorcery. Legends have it that the great magicians of the time invoked this gemstone to protect themselves from demons and evil entities evolving on earth.
The philosopher Theophrsata made a surprising discovery about tourmaline. He noted its pyroelectric properties (static electricity), as it attracted straw, ashes or small pieces of wood.
Because of its pyroelectric effect, alchemists considered it to be linked to the philosopher's stone.
The popularity of this colored stone peaked in the 17th century. Jewellers used it to adorn the crowns of Russian monarchs.
In the 18th century, Dutch merchants imported large quantities from Sri Lanka. They named it "asshentrekker", meaning"ash band", because of its electrostatic properties.
This natural stone was said to be beneficial to artists, writers, actors and creators.
Even today, in some African, Amerindian and aboriginal tribes, this stone is worn as a talisman in a necklace or bracelet to protect the wearer from all dangers.
Tourmaline is a natural stone renowned for its diversity of shades and chromatic variations. These range from green to pink, violet, black, green, blue, red, ochre and brown:
Some varieties are colorless. Other stones can present a combination of two or more colors, creating unique and fascinating effects. Such is the case of watermelon tourmaline, with its pink and green hues.
Legend has it that tourmaline crossed a rainbow on its journey from the depths of the earth to the surface, capturing all its colors.
This fine stone (formerly known as a"semi-precious stone") has a hardness of between 7 and 7.5 on the Mohs scale and a density of between 2.8 and 3.3.
The main deposits are found in Afghanistan, Angola, Australia, Burma, Brazil, India, Madagascar, Mozambique, Rhodesia, Russia, Sri Lanka, Tanzania, Thailand and the United States.
Considered a protective stone in lithotherapy, this gemstone is said to combat electromagnetic waves and negative energies. It is an excellent ally for meditation. It also calms emotions and stressful situations.
What is tourmaline's chakra? This gemstone is associated with several chakras, depending on its color and energetic properties:
Please note: our gemstones are not sold for lithotherapy. The effects of stones have not been scientifically proven. Natural stones are no substitute for medical expertise or treatment.
Like all gemstones, tourmaline needs to be recharged regularly to restore all its properties.
Before recharging, it needs to be cleaned and purified. To do this, rinse with distilled water or place in a container of distilled water for a few minutes. Then rinse with clean water and dry with a clean, soft cloth. Then purify it, either by passing it through incense or sage smoke, or by burying it in the earth.
Finally, to recharge it, simply expose it to sunlight or moonlight for a few hours.
Tourmaline comes in a wide range of colors, so it's equally at home in gold or silver. Gold filled (laminated gold), stainless steel, 925 silver, gold-plated stainless steel, gold-plated or 925 silver gilded with fine gold... all are suitable.
Which stone goes with tourmaline? In lithotherapy, we recommend wearing tourmaline with gemstones with complementary powers or similar benefits:
But there's nothing to stop you combining it with other natural stones, depending on your tastes and your DIY project.
The natural stone associated with October is Tourmaline.
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