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Lot 1397
"Paraiba" Tourmaline
27 May 2010, 13:00 EDT
New YorkSold for US$17,080 inc. premium
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Find your local specialist"Paraiba" Tourmaline
Alto Ligonha, near Nampula, Mozambique
From an alluvial deposit in the remote regions of the Alto Ligonha region of Mozambique, approximately 300 miles from Nampula, comes this very large vibrant-hued gem tourmaline. The deposit, which was only found about seven years ago, is one of copper-bearing or cuprian tourmaline. After much debate, the world's major laboratories have now agreed to use the coveted term "paraiba" to describe the most vivid hues of copper-containing tourmaline—particularly for those blues that are described in the trade as being "Caribbean" blue—regardless of the country of origin. The designation of "paraiba" was previously only permissible for those stones which actually originated at the São José da Batalha mine in the state of Paraiba, Brazil.
It would be difficult to imagine a finer stone from this locality, with its attractive sea bluish-green color this very fine gem displays an exemplary clarity and luster for the species. Weighing approximately 80.26 carats and measuring 28.0 x 25.5 x 16.2 mm
From an alluvial deposit in the remote regions of the Alto Ligonha region of Mozambique, approximately 300 miles from Nampula, comes this very large vibrant-hued gem tourmaline. The deposit, which was only found about seven years ago, is one of copper-bearing or cuprian tourmaline. After much debate, the world's major laboratories have now agreed to use the coveted term "paraiba" to describe the most vivid hues of copper-containing tourmaline—particularly for those blues that are described in the trade as being "Caribbean" blue—regardless of the country of origin. The designation of "paraiba" was previously only permissible for those stones which actually originated at the São José da Batalha mine in the state of Paraiba, Brazil.
It would be difficult to imagine a finer stone from this locality, with its attractive sea bluish-green color this very fine gem displays an exemplary clarity and luster for the species. Weighing approximately 80.26 carats and measuring 28.0 x 25.5 x 16.2 mm