© Christie’s
Pink to red is one of the colour ranges we commonly associate with tourmaline, often under the trade name rubellite, a term that, according to many stakeholders, can only refer to tourmalines that are pink to red in both daylight and incandescent light.
Technically, tourmaline is not strictly a mineral but rather a complex supergroup that includes a few mineral species with gemmological interest, and in the case of pink, three have been reported: elbaite (the most common), fluor-liddicoatite, and rossmanite.
© Pala International
The longtime colour-based verbal tradition have kept mineralogical terms away from the trade lexicon, where a simple “pink tourmaline” or “rubellite” will do the job.
The significant use of pink to red tourmalines in the decorative arts started in only the 20th century, with remarkable exceptions on Medieval jewellery, and the late Qing dynasty period, notably under empress Empress Dowager Cixi (1835-1908) produced interesting objets d’art made of material from the United States, notably from California from where there are records of significant production, with a reported volume of 120 tons being mined between 1902 and 1910 alone in then new Mesa Grande mining area, in San Diego County.
In the images, pink tourmaline, jadeite jade and natural pearl “Peach and Bats” pendant, late Qing dynasty © Christie’s’s; Pink tourmaline “Mythical Beast” seal, late Qing dynasty © Christie’s; Faceted 54.14-carat pink tourmaline from the Tourmaline Queen Mine, San Diego, California. © Pala International
Guest articles by Rui Galopim de Carvalho:
https://gem-spectrum.com/category/rui-galopim-de-carvalho
About the author:
Rui Galopim de Carvalho is a renowned independent Gem Education Consultant, author, luxury industry training expert and popular international lecturer on gemmology and on the history of gem materials. During his 30 year experience as a gemmologist, Rui has studied important collections in both public and private museums, notably the Portuguese Crown Jewels.
Founder of the popular Home Gemmology webinar series launched during the COVID-19 lockdown, Rui has a long history as a gemmology communicator, notably on social media where he is a popular figure.
Rui Galopim de Carvalho can be reached through his website:
