At a glance
-
Natural watermelon tourmaline — pink core, green rim
- 0.75" x 0.25" x 2.5"
- 24 g
- From Brazil
- Ships within 3 business days
How to use it
Backlight it. Tourmaline is transparent to translucent in thin sections, and light passing through the crystal rather than bouncing off it is what makes the pink and green separate cleanly. A window with indirect light, or a small display light behind the piece, does more for it than any amount of front lighting.
It is a collector specimen rather than a decorative object: display it in a case or on a small stand where the termination is visible, and handle it by the body rather than the tip. Tourmaline has a distinct cleavage across the crystal and does not appreciate being dropped.
Specifications
| Detail |
This piece |
| Stone |
Watermelon tourmaline (elbaite) |
| Dimensions |
0.75" x 0.25" x 2.5" |
| Weight |
24 g |
| Origin |
Brazil |
| Listing |
The specific piece pictured |
✨ Temple Tip
Look at the termination end, not the side. The concentric zoning — pink centre, green outer shell — is only fully readable where the crystal ends. That face is the whole reason watermelon tourmaline is collected, and it is the one most display setups accidentally hide.
Questions we get asked
Is this the exact specimen pictured?
Yes. Individually listed specimens at this level are sold as photographed, with their own measured dimensions and weight.
Is it a slice or a whole crystal?
A whole elongated crystal, 2.5" on its long axis, rather than a polished cross-section slice.
Why is watermelon tourmaline expensive?
Clean bicolor material with a well-defined boundary is uncommon, and Brazilian pegmatite pockets that produce it are worked out unpredictably. Price tracks colour separation, clarity and the condition of the termination.
How should I store it?
In a padded case or on a stand, away from anything that could knock it. Tourmaline is reasonably hard but brittle across the crystal, so impact is the real risk rather than scratching.
Does it need any cleaning?
Dust with a soft dry brush. Avoid ultrasonic cleaners entirely — they can propagate the fine internal fractures common in tourmaline.
A crystal that kept a record of the pocket it grew in, and shows it at the end face.
#TempleOfDesire
