Tourmaline, birthstone for October

Discovered in Sri Lanka , tourmaline is distinguished by its great variety of colors, taking its name from the term "turmali" meaning "stone of a thousand colors" in the official Sri Lankan language. Its hues range from pink to green to blue, like the rare and famous Paraíba tourmaline from Brazil. Its deposits are found mainly in Sri Lanka, Mozambique, Nigeria and Brazil.

Its hues range from pink to green to blue, like the rare and famous Paraíba tourmaline from Brazil. Its deposits are found mainly in Sri Lanka, Mozambique, Nigeria and Brazil.

Its history is equally fascinating: used since antiquity, it was often confused with other gems, and it wasn't until the 19th century that it was fully identified as a mineral in its own right. In China, Empress Tzu Hsi collected it with such passion that she was buried on a bed of tourmaline.

This stone is said to have many virtues, bringing calm and serenity to anxious hearts.