Tourmaline, already known to the ancients on the shores of the Mediterranean, was imported to Europe by the Dutch in 1703.

Its name means "stone of many colors". Tourmalines are classified into several varieties according to their color: achroite, rubellite, dravite, verdelite, indiglote, siberite, watermelon ...

Monochrome tourmalines are rather rare and often have a gradation of color. The most significant deposits are in Brazil (Minas Gerais, Paraiba).

Other deposits are found in many places including Afghanistan, Australia, Burma, India, Madagascar, Mozambique... Many types of cut are used. Pink, bright red and green are the most sought after colors.