1.45 Ct. Tourmaline from Nigeria

This 1.45 carat greenish blue tourmaline from Nigeria is presented by The Natural Gemstone Company with precise dimensions of 8.61 by 5.69 by 5.15 millimeters, a fancy shape and a fancy cut executed to emphasize optical performance and hue distribution. The cutter has combined a modified brilliant crown with a geometric pavilion motif to maximize light return and create crisp internal reflections, the result being a balanced interplay between dispersion and windowing that suits both close study and daily wear. Clarity is graded as very very slightly included evaluated at eye level, with inclusions that do not detract from transparency or contrast under normal viewing conditions, the polish is excellent producing sharp facet junctions and mirror like facet surfaces, and the overall symmetry supports a pleasing table face up that accentuates the stone plan. Color registers as light intensity in a greenish blue range, the hue leaning toward aquamarine tones while retaining the distinctive tourmaline saturation and pleochroic characteristics that collectors appreciate, the stone has been heat treated as an enhancement to stabilize and subtly refine the color balance, and the combination of cut, clarity and polish yields an optical presence that is elegant and technically superior for its size.

The geological narrative of this gem begins millions of years ago in a boron rich pegmatitic environment, where slow crystallization from volatile laden magmatic fluids allowed elongated tourmaline crystals to grow with well defined terminations and compositional zoning. Trace elements incorporated during growth, notably iron and small amounts of copper and manganese, controlled the greenish blue coloration, while fluctuating temperatures and fluid chemistry created subtle zoning that the cutter has oriented to enhance the most desirable face up tones. Over geological time, tectonic uplift exposed the pegmatite bodies to weathering and erosion, and artisanal miners in Nigeria recovered fragments that displayed the right combination of clarity and color for faceting. The heat treatment applied in a controlled manner by experienced technicians at The Natural Gemstone Company reduces unwanted color centers and harmonizes the hue without masking the natural zoning, preserving the gemological integrity of this finely finished tourmaline for use in bespoke jewelry or as a refined collector specimen.