Featured: Celestial Atlas High Jewellery Earrings with Brazilian Paraiba Tourmalines, from the HIDDEN GEMS High Jewellery Collection.
Few gemstones have generated fascination quite like Paraíba tourmaline. Recognised for vivid blues, turquoise and blue-green hues that can appear almost illuminated from within, Paraíba has become one of the most sought-after varieties within the tourmaline family.
Its story is remarkably recent. First discovered in Brazil in the late 1980s, Paraíba tourmaline quickly captured attention for a colour unlike that of conventional tourmalines. Today, new discoveries continue to add another chapter to its story.
As tourmaline is one of October's birthstones, we take a closer look at what makes Paraíba tourmaline distinctive, its Brazilian origins, and the latest discovery from Ethiopia.
What are Paraíba Tourmalines?
Paraíba tourmaline is a copper-bearing tourmaline renowned for intense blue to green colours. Copper plays a key role in producing its distinctive hues, which can range from electric blue and turquoise to vivid green. This remarkable luminosity is often described in the jewellery world as "neon".
The gemstone takes its name from Paraíba, Brazil, where these unusual copper-bearing tourmalines first appeared on the international gem market in 1989. Further Brazilian deposits were subsequently identified in neighbouring Rio Grande do Norte.
Source: Brittanica
Similar copper-bearing tourmalines were later discovered in Nigeria and Mozambique. As a result, the term Paraíba today does not necessarily indicate Brazilian origin. Determining geographic origin can require sophisticated laboratory analysis of a gemstone's trace-element composition.
In Simone Jewels' latest HIDDEN GEMS: CELESTIAL ATLAS High Jewellery collection, Brazilian Paraíba tourmalines are exclusively featured, their luminous colour becoming part of a wider story of discovery, hidden beauty, and the starry night sky.
Featured: Celestial Atlas High Jewellery Ring with an Untreated Neon Blue Brazilian Paraiba Tourmaline, from the HIDDEN GEMS High Jewellery Collection.
Why Are Paraíba Tourmalines So Sought After?
Much of Paraíba's appeal begins with its extraordinary colour.
Tourmaline occurs naturally in an extensive spectrum of hues, but the vivid green and blue colours of copper-bearing Paraíba tourmalines occupy a distinctive place within the gemstone family. GIA notes that the finest Paraíba tourmalines command prices above other tourmalines due to their vivid hues, saturation and rarity.
Fine stones can also be difficult to find in larger sizes, adding to their desirability. Yet there is no single measure that defines every exceptional Paraíba. Colour, saturation, clarity, size, treatment and geographic origin can all contribute to how an individual gemstone is understood and valued.
Do Paraíba Tourmalines Only Come From Brazil?
No. While Paraíba tourmaline was first discovered in Brazil, copper-bearing tourmalines meeting the Paraíba definition have since been found in Nigeria and Mozambique.
In August 2026, the story expanded further when GIA and Gübelin Gem Lab confirmed Ethiopia as a new source of Paraíba tourmaline. Both laboratories independently examined material from the newly reported deposit and concluded that it met the widely accepted definition of Paraíba tourmaline.
The long-term effect of this discovery on the market remains to be seen. Rather than changing what makes an individual Paraíba desirable, the emergence of another source brings renewed attention to provenance, gemmological documentation and the remarkable geological story behind these gemstones.
Are All Blue and Green Tourmalines Paraíba?
No. Colour alone does not make a tourmaline Paraíba.
Many varieties of tourmaline occur naturally in blue and green. Paraíba is distinguished by its copper-bearing composition, so two gemstones may appear similar to the eye while being gemmologically different.
Featured: Paradise in Harmony High Jewellery Rings. The left one features a 4.17-carat Paraíba Tourmaline, while the right one features a 3-carat Lagoon Tourmaline. Both rings are from the PORTRAITS OF PORCELAIN High Jewellery Collection.
Geographic origin is another matter. Brazilian, Nigerian and Mozambican Paraíba tourmalines can be difficult to separate through standard gemmological testing alone. Advanced chemical analysis allows laboratories to examine trace elements that can help establish provenance.
For an important Paraíba tourmaline, an independent laboratory report can therefore provide valuable information about its identity and, where determinable, geographic origin.
Interesting Facts About Paraíba Tourmaline
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Paraíba is a relatively modern gemstone discovery. The Brazilian material only reached the international gem market around 1989.
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Copper is responsible for its celebrated colour. It contributes to the vivid blue and green hues associated with the Paraíba tourmaline.
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Tourmalines are commonly heat treated to enhance their colour. Finding an untreated Paraíba tourmaline with exceptional colour is extremely rare.
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Paraíba does not automatically mean Brazil. Recognised sources now include Brazil, Nigeria, Mozambique and most recently Ethiopia.
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Origin may not be visible to the eye. Laboratory analysis is required to distinguish material from different deposits.
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Tourmaline shares October with opal. Both are recognised as October birthstones.
The Allure of Paraíba
In just a few decades, Paraíba tourmaline has earned a distinctive place in the world of coloured gemstones. From its discovery in Brazil to newly confirmed deposits in Ethiopia, its story continues to evolve.
Yet its fascination ultimately returns to colour. There is something unmistakable about the luminosity of a fine Paraíba, with vivid hues that seem to come alive in the light.
This October, discover Brazilian Paraíba tourmalines in Simone Jewels' latest collection, where their brilliance becomes part of a story waiting to be revealed. To schedule a private viewing, kindly book an appointment here.
