Electric Dreams: The Irresistible Allure of Paraiba Tourmalines
Damiani Marea Rosa Necklace “Ode to Italy” High Jewellery collection that draws inspiration from the colours, shapes and splendours that encapsulate the very essence of Italy.
There are gemstones that dazzle, and then there are those that haunt you. Paraiba tourmaline belongs to the latter. With its incandescent glow an electric blue-green that seems to shimmer from within it’s a stone that doesn’t just catch the eye, it captures the imagination. For those of us who live and breathe visual storytelling, Paraiba is not merely a gem; it’s a portal into a world of wonder, rarity, and emotional resonance.
My own journey into the world of precious stones began not in a gem lab, but behind the lens and layout of fashion editorials. Jewellery, to me, was always about the visual the way a stone could punctuate a silhouette, or how a necklace could echo the mood of a collection. But it wasn’t until I became close friends with jeweller and gemmologist Karina Choudhrie that I began to understand the deeper language of gemstones. It was Karina who first introduced me to Paraiba, showing me a photograph of a bespoke ring she had designed for a client. “That stone,” she said, “is a museum piece.” I believed her.
Karina Choudhrie Bespoke High Jewellery Collection 15 carats museum quality Paraiba Tourmaline and diamonds ring.
A Discovery Born of Obsession
The story of Paraiba tourmaline begins with a dream. In the 1980s, Brazilian miner Heitor Dimas Barbosa spent years digging through the hills of the Paraíba state, convinced that something extraordinary lay beneath the surface. His intuition proved prophetic. In 1989, he unearthed a gemstone unlike any the world had seen a vivid, neon-blue tourmaline that seemed to glow with its own inner light. It was later named after the region of its discovery: Paraiba.
Zendaya
Attended Golden Globes 2025 wearing a Paraiba and diamonds necklace by Bvlgari
What makes Paraiba so unique is its composition. The presence of copper and, in some cases, manganese gives the stone its signature electric hue ranging from Caribbean blue to mint green, sometimes with a hint of violet. It’s a colour that defies categorisation, often described as “neon” or “glowing,” and it’s this otherworldly quality that sets it apart from all other tourmalines.
Harry Winston
Paraiba and Diamond Necklace set in Platinum
Rarity Beyond Measure
Despite its growing popularity among collectors and connoisseurs, Paraiba remains one of the rarest gemstones in the world. The original Brazilian mine is now depleted, and while deposits have since been found in Mozambique and Nigeria, Brazilian Paraibas especially those with intense saturation are considered the most valuable. Today, they are almost exclusively found in vintage jewellery or through private collectors who acquired them early.
Tiffany & Co. Blue Book Collection Wave Ring in White and Yellow Gold with an Esteemed Paraiba Tourmaline.
Adler ring 'Mandala Soul' in 18kt white gold and mother of pearl set with one Mozambican "Paraíba" cabochon tourmaline 15.66 cts and 194 diamonds 0.88 ct.
Chopard Ring from the Red Carpet collection, in 18 carat white gold and titanium featuring a 30 carat oval shaped Paraiba tourmaline bordered by two royal blue sapphire shoulders and set with brilliant cut sapphires.
This scarcity has only amplified their desirability. Since their discovery, the price of Paraiba tourmalines has increased nearly tenfold. Unlike diamonds, which are priced according to a standardised system, Paraiba’s value is determined by its colour a deeply subjective and emotional factor. What one person finds mesmerising in a seafoam hue, another may fall in love with in a deeper turquoise. This makes each stone not just rare, but irreplaceable.
From Collector’s Secret to Couture Spotlight
Anna Hu Haute Joiellierie
Broche Côté Céleste In this creation, Anna Hu illustrates the formation of the universe. The 42.62-carat Paraiba tourmaline represents the Earth at its center, while the sun and moon symbolize the guardians of the galaxy, with stars in four colors depicted across the nebulas surrounding the sun and moon.
For years, Paraiba remained a well-kept secret among gem aficionados. But in recent seasons, the stone has begun to take centre stage in high jewellery collections. David Morris, known for its spectacular and often whimsical creations, has incorporated Paraiba into several standout pieces that caught our editorial eye. The house’s ability to pair the gem’s electric vibrancy with soft pink sapphires or icy diamonds speaks to a new era of gemstone storytelling one that celebrates contrast and emotion.
David Morris
18ct white gold, 58.88ct blue sapphires, 52.12ct Paraiba tourmaline and 16.68ct white diamonds, ‘Starburst’ High Jewellery Cuff
Even Bvlgari, the legendary Italian jeweller, once dedicated an entire collection to Paraiba tourmalines, showcasing the stone’s versatility and power. And in 2023, Gucci unveiled Gucci Allegoria, a high jewellery collection inspired by nature’s ephemeral beauty. Spring’s awakening and summer’s exuberance were expressed through saturated hues emeralds, spinels, and, yes, Paraiba tourmalines set among multifaceted diamonds in daring, unexpected cuts. It was a masterclass in colour, creativity, and craftsmanship.
Gucci Allegoria High Jewelry Collection Necklace in white gold with spinel, Paraiba tourmalines, chrysoberyl’s, spinel and diamonds.
Gucci Allegoria High Jewelry Collection Jacket earrings in white gold with Paraiba tourmalines, chrysoberyl’s, spinel’s and diamonds.
The Emotional Investment
Beyond its aesthetic appeal, Paraiba is increasingly being viewed as a long-term investment. But unlike diamonds, which can be traded off a price list, Paraiba is a stone that resists commodification. Its value lies not in carats or clarity alone, but in the emotional response it evokes. It’s a gem someone falls in love with often instantly, and irrevocably.
As Karina once told me, “If you can acquire a stone and hold onto it for a time when someone else will fall in love with it, therein lies the opportunity for profit.” It’s a sentiment that resonates deeply in today’s market, where scarcity and emotional storytelling are driving value more than ever. In a world of mass production and algorithmic trends, Paraiba offers something rare: a sense of discovery, of intimacy, of magic.
Dior Joiellerie
DIOREXQUIS BOUQUET MILLY PARAIBA EARRINGS White gold, diamonds, Paraiba-type tourmalines, pink, purple, blue and yellow sapphires, pink rubies, emeralds, spessartite ad grape garnets, lavender spinels, aquamarines, turquoise and lacquer
A Gem for the Dreamers
To wear Paraiba is to wear a piece of the impossible. It’s a gem that speaks to those who seek the extraordinary not just in their jewellery, but in their lives. It’s for the collectors who chase rarity, the creatives who crave colour, and the romantics who believe that beauty should always come with a story.
For me, Paraiba is more than a gemstone. It’s a reminder that some of the most powerful things in life like love, like art, like light can’t be explained. They can only be felt.
Buccelati Centaurea necklace and matching earrings with Paraiba tourmalines, tsavorite garnets and diamonds from the “Il Giardino di Buccelati High Jewellery Collection”