2.35 Ct. Cabochon Paraiba Tourmaline from Nigeria

This offering from The Natural Gemstone Company is a finely presented, semi translucent paraiba tourmaline weighing 2.35 carat, with an oval outline and finished as a cabochon. The gem measures 8.67 by 7.18 by 4.90 millimeters, and displays a delicate bluish green hue with medium color intensity. Origin is Nigeria, where copper and manganese traces impart the characteristic paraiba range of color. The stone has an eye level clarity grade of included, meaning inclusions are visible to the naked eye, and it has received heat treatment to optimize its tone and balance. The cabochon has an excellent polish, which gives the domed surface a refined, smooth finish and accentuates the gem’s translucency and color delivery.

The cabochon cut intentionally departs from faceting in order to showcase the internal color and light scattering of this paraiba tourmaline. Rather than relying on faceted facets to produce scintillation and brilliance, the domed surface of the cabochon concentrates transmitted light and allows gentle internal reflection, producing a soft glow that emphasizes depth and color saturation across the stone’s face. Light entering the dome is refracted throughout the body of the tourmaline and then returned as a unified, luminous wash, which is particularly effective on semi translucent material. The oval shape maximizes the face up area while maintaining balanced proportions, which helps the viewer perceive an even, inviting color field. Excellent polish on the dome is crucial, because it enhances surface reflection and creates crisp highlights that contrast with the gem’s internal color, giving the piece dimensionality without the need for faceted brilliance.

Clarity and enhancement details are central to an informed purchase, and they influence both aesthetic expectations and long term value. The clarity grade of included, evaluated at eye level, indicates that fractures or mineral inclusions are visible without magnification. These inclusions can scatter light internally and sometimes create attractive textures or a sense of depth, but they also reduce transparency and will influence price compared to eye clean material. In this example the inclusions are harmonized with the cabochon presentation, where the cut tends to mask or integrate internal features into the overall glow rather than exposing them as isolated dark pinpoints. Heat treatment has been applied to stabilize and improve the color, a common and accepted practice in paraiba type tourmalines. Heat treatment in tourmaline is generally stable and not designed to deceive, rather it optimizes tone and removes unwanted brownish modifiers, producing a more pleasing bluish green at medium intensity. The combination of medium saturation, cabochon form, and excellent polish produces a gemstone that reads as fresh and luminous in hand, while being transparent about the presence of visible inclusions.

For the educated buyer, this piece offers a thoughtful balance of rarity, aesthetic character, and practical considerations. Paraiba style tourmalines, particularly those with verifiable Nigerian origin, are sought after for the presence of copper that shifts color into a vivid bluish green family, making even medium intensity stones desirable for collectors and designers. The 2.35 carat weight and the generous oval face make this gem suitable for statement rings, pendants with open back settings to allow light transmission, or bespoke designs where the soft glow of a cabochon is preferred over sparkling brilliance. Tourmaline is relatively durable, with a hardness of seven to seven point five on the Mohs scale, but because inclusions and cleavage tendencies can affect toughness, careful bezel or protective settings are recommended to reduce risk from knocks. We at The Natural Gemstone Company encourage buyers to consider this gem for its distinctive color provenance, its transparent treatment disclosure, and the way the cabochon cut intentionally enhances its inherent properties. For collectors seeking a paraiba tourmaline with personality and documented origin, this Nigerian cabochon presents an appealing and honest option.