Tourmaline Value, Price, and Jewelry Information

Accompanying value information:

Watermelon Tourmaline Buying Guide

Paraíba Tourmaline Buying Guide

Tourmaline Buying Guide

Chrome Tourmaline Buying Guide

Blue Tourmaline (Indicolite) Buying Guide

Green Tourmaline (Verdelite) Buying Guide

Rubellite Tourmaline Buying Guide

The International Gem Society (IGS) has a list of businesses offering gemstone appraisal services.

Ready availability keeps tourmaline prices reasonable. Small tourmalines (under 5 carats) are fairly easy to obtain at modest cost. Only when you get into large sizes or extremely rare or fine colors do prices go over a few hundred dollars per carat.

Most colors are fairly common, but pure blue, red, orange, yellow, and purple stones are rare. Such stones usually command higher prices. Color-change tourmalines are also exceptionally rare. Neon-blue paraíba tourmalines, raspberry-red rubellites, and emerald-green chrome tourmalines are especially prized.

7.73-ct orange tourmaline, Africa. © All That Glitters. Used with permission.

Tourmaline crystals are often cracked and flawed, which puts a premium on clean gemstones, especially those over 10 carats in weight. Generally, the only acceptable types of inclusions in cut tourmalines are the tubes that, when densely packed, produce a cat’s eye effect in cabochons. The “eye” in a cat’s eye tourmaline can be very strong, especially when set against a richly colored gem.

Unusual blue-and-pink bi-color tourmaline with a very sharp cat’s eye, 0.93 cts. (Colors in photo not accurate). © All That Glitters. Used with permission.

For more information on tourmaline quality factors, see our buying guides for tourmalines in general as well as engagement ring stones.

You may also wish to consult the following articles for information on specific varieties:

• Chrome Tourmaline Buying Guide
• Green Tourmaline (Verdelite) Buying Guide
• Rubellite Tourmaline Buying Guide
• Blue Tourmaline (Indicolite) Buying Guide
• Paraíba Tourmaline Buying Guide
• Watermelon Tourmaline Buying Guide

11.30-ct, cushion-cut, bright green tourmaline, the Kunar Valley, Afghanistan. © All That Glitters. Used with permission.