The following tale was written years ago, when I tried to share the excitement of buying and cutting tourmaline with a friend. I would like to share one of them with you now.
A TOURMALINE TALE OF SAD AND GLAD
THE BIRTH OF A BEAUTY
The stone was advertised on the web pages from darkest Africa as a tourmaline of 14 carats with a violet c axis and a pink a/b axis. Since I am an intrepid hunter of the beautiful and unusual in tourmaline, I captured the gem and had it sent all the way to Mars. When the rough arrived, I could clearly see that there was beauty in the dark sultry color of the c axis, but that the crystal would have to be divided into two because of its length. The operation was a success and now there were two. I could now see the c axis color more clearly and its seductive color, but would it still be rich and beautiful when cut? The delicate operation, that was spread over two days, produced a gem with the fire of a million stars and color of a blackberry’s blush. I have other tourmalines with a similar complexion in my harem, but none as saucy and bright. I have now seen her in many lights and I still sing her praises. Will she ever leave me? The future is uncertain, but I will always remember the color of her eyes.
A dichroic emerald cut tourmaline with purplish ends, blackberry blush, and much paler slightly brownish purple pink center/sides. It weighs 2.79 ct.
Bruce
