Rubellite

Primary colors (red, blue, green) are the most desirable to buyers of gemstones. This is one of the chief reasons why ruby, sapphire and emerald are so highly prized, and so expensive. With the exception of ruby and red spinel, there is only one gemstone that occurs in a rich, dark-red color: rubellite. Ruby and spinel are priced at levels of thousands of dollars per carat. Red tourmaline therefore, at several hundred dollars per carat, remains an attractive value and one that has significant potential for price appreciation.

Tourmaline occurs in virtually every known gemstone color, with more than 120 distinct hues reported. Greens, blue-greens, blues and pinks are typical, and these are the most in demand commercially. Red tourmalines, especially ones that resemble fine ruby, are so rare that they are almost never seen in jewelry stores, and remain essentially unknown to the public. Typical rubellite colors include pink, rose-red and violet, and intermediate shades. All are rare and beautiful, and very underpriced considering their rarity.

The chemical impurities that color a tourmaline red or pink are detrimental to the stable growth of the material in its natural environment. These impurities cause a growing tourmaline crystal to become internally flawed or cracked; the more the impurity is present, the darker the red color, and the more imperfect the final crystal. It is therefore extremely rare to find dark violet, pink or red tourmalines that are "clean" internally. Some day in the future the gemstone market will be fully aware of this fact, and fine rubellite will be priced accordingly.