Earlier this month, we looked at the beautiful, iridescent opal, the stone of the month for October. However, if you have a birthday this month and you’re looking for birthstone jewellery, you actually have a choice. There are two stones associated with this month – the opal and the tourmaline.
Like the opal, tourmaline can be found in a wide range of colours; while its most common form is black, it can also be colourless or hold a variety of colours. One particular variety is known as “watermelon tourmaline” because it shows both pink and green colours in one crystal, much like the pink flesh and green rind of the watermelon.
Tourmalines were first brought to Europe in great quantities from Sri Lanka, but today are sourced chiefly from Africa and Brazil, and it is a particular part of Brazil that gives its name to a certain type of tourmaline: paraiba. In 1989, prospectors in the Brazilian state of Paraíba found a source of tourmalines with a trace of copper, giving them a particularly vivid shade of turquoise. Similarly coloured sources have since been found in a few other areas, but they share this name, and they are rare and sought after gemstones.
We have a particularly stunning example of paraiba tourmaline set into our 18ct White Gold 2.81ct Paraiba & 0.66ct Diamond Ring.
Featuring a 2.81 carat paraiba stone, pear shaped and “en cabochon” cut, as its central piece, the ring is also adorned with 0.66 carats of Brilliant cut diamonds in a halo design, spreading down the shoulders to create a stunning sparkle. All set in solid 18ct white gold, this is a very special ring which anyone would be delighted to wear on their finger. This piece is priced at £5,500 or available on 0% finance for 36 monthly payments of £122.22 and a 20% deposit.
If blue is not your colour, then we have another variety of tourmaline that we might suggest; the stunning red of rubellite. Rubellite is the name given to the pink-red varieties of tourmaline, with those showing a deep ruby red colouring being the most prized. It’s one of these absolutely magnificent stones that is the central feature of our exceptional 18ct White & Rose Gold 6.13ct Rubellite & Diamond Ring.
This superb piece features a 6.13ct rubellite, secured with a four claw 18ct rose gold setting and surrounded by 2.30ct of dazzling pave set fine diamonds. The 18ct white gold shank features a honeycomb lattice on the underside of the feature setting, and these features all combine to create a truly incredible, spectacular ring. Priced at £13,750, this piece is available on our 0% finance option at 36 monthly payments of £305.56 and a 20% deposit.
Whether you’re looking for a piece of remarkable birthstone jewellery, designer pieces or affordable fashion jewellery, at Banks Lyon our range of luxury jewellery and diamonds offers something to suit any occasion. For further information, you can call us on 01524 384858, visit our Lancaster store, or get in touch with us via Facebook and Twitter.