Paraíba Opal are exceedingly rare blue gemstones, from Brazil's famed Paraíba state. Displaying delicate bluish greens similar to a Caribbean Sea, Paraíba Opal is visually similar to the color of fine Paraíba Tourmalines, one of the world's most valuable gemstones. Hardness 5.5 - 6.5. Refractive Index 1.370 - 1.520.

What is the rarest color Opal?

Additionally, black opals are considered to be the rarest (white opals are more common). An opal with a translucent to opaque white and other light color backgrounds (bodycolor) with play-of-color is called white opal. Fire opal is transparent to translucent with a bodycolor that is usually yellow, orange or red.

Is Paraiba tourmaline a precious stone?

These cupriferous tourmalines from the Mina da Batalha in the Federal Brazilian State of Paraiba are small, rare and precious. Their spirited turquoise to green colours are such as are not found in any other gemstone in the world. The exclusiveness of this legendary find makes these rare gemstones real treasures.

What kind of stone is Paraiba?

Paraiba tourmaline is a type of tourmaline, a semi-precious gemstone, that was first discovered in Paraiba, Brazil (where it receives its name, as you could probably guess). Only recently discovered, in the 1980s, these stones often have a blue-green hue, with intense coloration derived from their copper content.

Is blue Fire Opal rare?

Fire Opal is rare compared to other colors because of its chemical structure and depositional environment.

Ethiopian Opal For DUMMIES - All you Need to know!

What is Dragons Breath opal?

ABOUT MEXICAN OPALS: Mexican Opal, also known as Dragon's Breath, is a collector's nickname for man-made stones that are made of glass and mixed with certain metals to produce a brilliant color shifting effect. Colors shift from a deep to bright red with flashes of electric blue and even purples.

Why did my opal turn blue?

Chemical Composition

Its water composition is also such a distinct property that causes opals to change in colour. Heat, humidity, sweat and contact in water can make the amount of water in opals fluctuate. When this happens or when your opal pendant loses or gains water, its colour changes.

How much are Paraiba tourmalines worth?

Quality Paraiba tourmalines range from $2,000 to $50,000 per carat. Because of the value and rarity of this stone, purchasing a larger number of small stones is often more feasible than finding a multi-carat, genuine Paraiba on the market.

Is Paraiba a good investment?

The Brazilian paraiba is still the most valuable, but color and clarity are more important than origin for these rare gems. Clean paraiba tourmalines with exceptionally vivid color are the most valuable. These are not the only investment grade gem varieties, by any means.

How rare is Paraiba?

To put their rarity into perspective, there is only one Paraiba tourmaline mined for every 10,000 diamonds, and a good quality Paraiba from Brazil weighing over three carats is virtually unheard of. So rare are authentic Brazilian Paraiba tourmalines that it is not unusual for them to achieve five figures per carat.

How do you know if a Paraiba tourmaline is real?

Look for a turquoise color with flashes of green. Paraiba tourmalines get their brilliant aqua color from copper, which also creates greenish flashes within a faceted stone when it is exposed to bright light. This is one of the best ways for a non-expert to identify the possibility that a stone is a Paraiba tourmaline.

What does Paraiba tourmaline look like?

Paraíba tourmalines appear in a range of greenish blue, bluish green, green, blue, and violet hues. Although buyers covet all these colors, blue and violet have the most appeal. Dealers use a number of names to try to capture the extraordinary quality of Paraíba tourmaline's colors.

What is the rarest gemstone?

Painite : Not just the rarest gemstone, but also the rarest mineral on earth, Painite holds the Guinness World Record for it. After its discovery in the year 1951, there existed only 2 specimens of Painite for the next many decades. By the year 2004, there were less than 2 dozens known gemstones.

What is Harlequin opal?

"Harlequin opal" is a name given to an opal with patches of fire in the shape of rectangles or diamonds. The specimen in the photo is a harlequin opal from the Constellation Mine in Spencer, Idaho. It is 6 millimeters by 4 millimeters in size.

Are black opals rare?

Black opals are exceptionally rare in that they are known to form in only one place: Australia. In fact, most of the opals found on the continent are from the town of Lightning Ridge. To put this into perspective, Vatican City has a population of 1,000 and Lightning Ridge has just over double that.

What is the most expensive type of opal?

Black opal is the most prized opal and may realise prices over AUD $15,000 a carat. Boulder opals also have a dark body tone. White opals have a light body tone and are generally the least valuable form of opal.

Is Paraiba a pyramid scheme?

A brief look at its presentation reveals that it is a typical pyramid scheme. It lives on new deposits coming in, it needs new members to be recruited and it has a correspondent structure. People will get rewarded for introducing new investors to Paraiba, you can get a percentage of what people below you deposit.

Which gemstone is best investment?

Coloured rubies are among the safest gemstone investments. They are seen by collectors to hold their value and market demand better than diamonds, especially as they become rarer. Fine unheated rubies in larger sizes from Myanmar draw prices over US$1 million S$1.35 million) per carat at auction.

Is tanzanite or diamond rarer?

It is a variety of the mineral zoisite and varies from blue, to violet, or purple in colour. Described as 'a geological phenomenon', tanzanite is 1,000 times more rare than diamonds. Tanzanite jewellery is extremely valuable and coveted, both for the gem's rarity, as well as its beauty.

Is Paraiba tourmaline still being mined?

Since the initial discovery of this copper-bearing tourmaline in 1982, production has been sporadic and has not kept up with the strong market demand. Mining currently takes place at the original discovery—the Mina da Batalha—and at adjacent workings near São José da Batalha in Paraíba State.

Where are Paraiba tourmalines found?

ABSTRACT. Vivid blue to green copper-bearing tourmalines, known as Paraíba tourmalines, are recovered from deposits in Brazil, Nigeria, and Mozambique. These tourmalines are sought after for their intense colors.

Is Paraiba tourmaline more expensive than diamond?

Far rarer than diamonds, Paraiba tourmaline, discovered only in the 1980s, is treasured as much for its extraordinary color as its scarcity, both of which contribute to its high value. While diamonds generally sell for about $6,000 per carat, a carat of Paraiba tourmaline is likely to fetch about $16,000.

Why are Ethiopian opals so cheap?

It might seem a tad bit odd, but Ethiopian opals are cheap because they don't control the market. Sure, they are a bit rarer than Australian, but they have to compete with opal royalty. The only way Ethiopian opal sellers can turn a profit is if they offer their gems at a lower price point.

Can I wear my opal ring everyday?

Opal is a precious gemstone that when cared for correctly will last a lifetime and can be handed down throughout generations. Opals are more delicate then other gemstones, but they can still be worn daily as long as some simple rules are followed.

How can I tell if my opal is real?

Most genuine solid opals have an irregularity in this area – curved or bumpy due to their natural formation – whereas a man-made stone will be perfectly flat because the two sections are flattened so they can be glued together. Be especially wary if the opal is set in jewellery and you cannot see its back or side.