Slim Gemstone Necklace: Tourmaline

Tourmaline dazzles with more color variety than almost any gem on earth, capable of growing several hues within a single crystal — a phenomenon so striking that early European explorers found tourmalines in Brazil and mistook them for emeralds and sapphires, unaware they'd discovered an entirely different stone. Its name comes from the Sinhalese word "turmali," meaning "mixed gems," a nod to the rainbow of colors Dutch traders once pulled from Sri Lankan riverbeds. Ancient legend held that tourmaline traveled along a rainbow, gathering every color as it passed, which is why no two stones look quite the same. The rarest member of the tourmaline family is the pink tourmaline - it is even rarer than a ruby!

Metaphysically, tourmaline is considered a stone of balance and energetic clearing, believed to ground the wearer, dissolve tension, and open the heart to compassion and self-understanding. The stone is believed to inspire creativity and was used extensively as a talisman by artists and writers from the Renaissance through the Victorian Age, including Shakespeare, who had a small collection of tourmaline jewelry to help him overcome writer’s block.

With its endless spectrum and storied past, tourmaline is a gem for those who want their jewelry to be as multifaceted as they are.