Investing in Paraiba tourmaline requires a thorough understanding of its key characteristics and market dynamics. May be it’s too late to this gemstone? Let’s figure this out together.
Paraiba tourmaline is a captivating and highly valued gemstone known for its vibrant neon colors and rarity. Discovered in the late 1980s, it quickly became one of the most coveted gems in the world. The original and most renowned Paraiba tourmalines were discovered in the state of Paraíba, Brazil, by a miner named Heitor Dimas Barbosa.
Similar tourmalines have since been found in Mozambique and Nigeria. While these stones share similar chemical compositions and vibrant colors, Brazilian Paraiba tourmalines are generally considered the most valuable.
The hallmark of Paraiba tourmaline is its intense neon blue, green, or blue-green color. This striking coloration is due to trace amounts of copper and, sometimes, manganese within the crystal structure.
Some sources promote Paraiba tourmalines as gemstones with high degree of brilliance and luminosity, making them stand out among other gemstones. But I can’t agree with it due to inclusions. Normally, Paraiba tourmaline has them a lot, even good ones and this factor makes the brilliance less. Anyway, first of all, we love this stone for its unique color.
So, let’s discuss the main Quality Factors before you choose your first Paraiba tourmaline for your collection or jewelry.
Color
Neon Blue to neon Green: The most prized Paraiba tourmalines exhibit a neon blue, blue-green, or turquoise color. The intensity and saturation of the color are key determinants of value.
The next important factor is copper Content: The presence of copper is what gives Paraiba tourmalines their unique glow. Higher copper content generally results in more vivid colors. Some kinds of tourmaline exist in similar colors for example mint color, but it’s not Paraiba and cost many times cheaper. And if you are not working in the gem business it’s can be tough to see the difference.
Some sellers use this trick, selling not a Paraiba color tourmalines as Paraiba. Please, be careful!
Practicing everyday on the gem market I found a very good example to share with you. Please, learn with my experience not with your money :)
There are two tourmalines, similar cutting shape, similar carat weight and color, but with a noticeable difference in the price. First one costs 590$ and has the color very close to Paraiba, second one costs more than 4000$ and is a real Paraiba. This Paraiba doesn’t cost much , less than 5000$, because it’s African not a Brazilian. African Paraiba cost less.
Next main thing is clarity. As I told in the beginning of this video Paraiba tourmalines often have inclusions, which are natural imperfections within the stone. While some inclusions are acceptable, stones with fewer and less noticeable inclusions are more valuable.
Common inclusions include needle-like structures or liquid-filled cavities.
Cut
Let’s talk about Cutting. Due to very high rough cost of Paraiba tourmaline, the cutters usually want to save the weight of the gemstone and not everyone cares about the cutting quality. Second problem are inclusions, and the good cutter must work around them to minimize their visibility.
Despite all this difficulties, we guys, looking for a good stones and They are exist, we just have to be more picky and patient.
Size can be very different, depends on your budget. Just pay attention, that Larger Paraiba tourmalines are significantly rarer and thus more valuable. Stones over 1 carat are especially prized, with those exceeding 5 carats being extremely rare and valuable.
So, we finished with the main keys: color, cut clarity and carat weight and moving to the most exciting part: price and investment potential.
Investing in Paraiba tourmaline, particularly the highly sought-after variety from the Brazilian state of Paraíba, can be lucrative due to its rarity, vibrant neon blue to green hues, and increasing demand. Here are some key considerations for investing in this gemstone:
1. Authenticity and Origin
- Certification: Ensure the gemstone comes with a certification from a reputable gemological laboratory verifying its authenticity and origin. Brazilian Paraiba tourmalines are considered the most valuable.
- Origin Verification: Paraiba tourmalines also come from Mozambique and Nigeria, which are generally less valuable but still highly prized.
- with the certificate ask copper report - to be sure, that you tourmaline has not only Paraiba color appearance and also is the Paraiba inside due to its chemistry
Let’s move back to our tourmalines we had compare before. There are two certificates: both of them spotted as natural tourmalines and only one can be called Paraiba due to chemical compositions. That means that the lab tested the gemstones and found the copper contents.
How much does Paraiba cost and what are the market trends ?
I remember the time, when some people said that’s Paraiba is just a fashion trend and the price gonna fall down very soon. It was 10-15 years ago. But it’s never happen. The prices are continuing to grow, adding at least 15-20% every year.
Today, very average price range for Paraiba tourmalines from Brazil is
- **Small Stones (under 1 carat)**
- **Low to Mid-Quality**: $2,000 to $10,000 per carat.
- **High-Quality**: $10,000 to $30,000 per carat.
- **Medium Stones (1 to 5 carats)**
- **Low to Mid-Quality**: $5,000 to $20,000 per carat.
- **High-Quality**: $20,000 to $50,000 per carat.
- **Large Stones (over 5 carats)**
- **Low to Mid-Quality**: $15,000 to $30,000 per carat.
- **High-Quality**: $50,000 to $100,000+ per carat.
Nigerian and Paraiba from Mozambique cost 20-30% cheaper.
Btw it would be interesting to rewatch this video in 5-10 years and compare how the situation had changed.
Let’s compare the prices in 2010 for Paraiba tourmaline . The estimated Prices were:
- **Brazilian Paraiba Tourmaline**:
- High-quality stones: Around $10,000 to $20,000 per carat. And nobody could believe that the price will increase. Again today this quality cost 50000-100000$ a carat
-African Paraiba Tourmaline** (Mozambique and Nigeria):
- High-quality stones were cost Around $2,000 to $5,000 per carat. Today, the price starts from 5000$ and can be easy $15000 per carat
These prices reflect general trends and the increasing rarity and demand for high-quality Paraiba tourmalines, particularly those from Brazil. For precise pricing, professional appraisals or consultations with gem dealers are recommended.
On the last exhibition in Bangkok and Hong Kong in June I have seen several Exceptional Paraiba Stones from Brazil with the price $100,000 per carat. Again per carat, it’s not a total amount. So, we already can feel, no price limits for this gemstone are exist.
So, Current Market Trends are very obvious
- Increasing Demand
The demand for Paraiba tourmalines continues to rise, especially in high-end jewelry markets in the United States, Europe, and Asia.
- Limited Supply due to limited mining
- the carat price is rising 15-20% every year.
I recommend to keep the stone at least 5 years to get a good profit.