Watermelon Tourmaline: Try a Slice of Nature
| |
 |
If beauty had a taste, watermelon tourmaline would be its flavor. A stunning achievement of nature, watermelon tourmaline is a stone craved by many—and not just in the summertime. Watermelon tourmaline is a seedless wonder that can be worn throughout any season.
 The tourmaline family of gemstones is quite large and tourmalines can be one of many different colors, or they can have two different colors on the same stone and be classified as bi-colored. Watermelon tourmaline is a rare form of tourmaline that exhibits up to three different colors which are similar to those of watermelons. The watermelon tourmaline crystal consists of a green color which would be indicative of a watermelon’s outer skin. Also present, is a pinkish red color that resembles the inner part of a watermelon. At times, there is a white color that will separate the green from the pink/red, and the white has a resemblance to a watermelon’s rind. The green and pink/red placement will differ by stone. Green will not always be on the outside. Some times the colors will do a flip flop. If the white (rind) band is not present, the gemstone is sometimes called a bi-colored tourmaline.
The colors of a watermelon tourmaline gemstone are believed to be affected by the stone’s lithium content. Usually, watermelon tourmaline gemstones are smaller in size, and therefore, if you encounter a larger size, it will tend to be more expensive. Larger stones with very distinguishable color differences will usually fetch higher prices.
Watermelon tourmaline is available in many shapes. Gemstone cutters use a cross-sectional cut, which is known as a watermelon tourmaline slice. The differences between these slices and the actual “food” watermelon slices are quite important. For one thing, you won’t end up having to spit out any seeds. And secondly (most importantly), you shouldn’t be biting into a watermelon tourmaline gemstone anyway, unless you want to end up spitting out your broken teeth. Taste watermelon tourmaline with your EYES ONLY.
Watermelon tourmaline is a 100% naturally occurring gemstone. It, as is in the case of other tourmalines, is rated 7.0-7.5 on the Mohs scale of hardness. Also, since it is a tourmaline, it is pyroelectric (piezoelectric). When rubbed, the tourmaline gemstones will attract dust particles. The best cleaning method for watermelon tourmaline is a soft cloth used with warm water and mild soap.
There are a few places watermelon tourmaline has been found. Myanmar (Burma), Brazil, Sri Lanka (Ceylon), and the United States, are just some of those locations. Tourmaline is the national gemstone of the United States, and along with opal, is a birthstone for the month of October. Also, tourmaline is suitable for giving as an 8th wedding anniversary gift.
Go out and get yourself a slice of nature’s beauty. Watermelon tourmaline is a cool, refreshing treat for those of you who want to be cool while looking oh, so hot.
|
|
