The facts
What indicolite actually is
Indicolite is classified as elbaite tourmaline, with the composition Na(Li,Al)₃Al₆(BO₃)₃Si₆O₁₈(OH)₄. It crystallises in the trigonal system.
Colour comes from iron, which is also what a laboratory looks at when it is asked whether a colour is natural.
Refractive index 1.620–1.640. Specific gravity around 3.01–3.11. Cleavage: indistinct. Those three numbers separate it from most of what imitates it.
Where indicolite comes from
Indicolite is produced at Minas Gerais, Brazil, Namibia, Afghanistan and Madagascar.
The locality is part of the description, not a footnote — two stones of the same weight from two of these places are not the same stone.
How indicolite is treated
Heated routinely to lighten over-dark stones.
Treatment changes value, sometimes by a multiple, so it belongs in the description before the price and not after the sale.
What indicolite is confused with
In the trade indicolite is most often mistaken for, or substituted by, Paraíba, Apatite or Blue topaz.
The separation is rarely a matter of opinion: refractive index 1.620–1.640 and specific gravity 3.01–3.11 settle most of it in a minute, and magnification settles the rest.
What indicolite is used for
Demand for indicolite comes from jewellery, which is why one price per carat never covers it.
We quote each application in the unit that trade actually buys in, by the carat.
Durability and care
Indicolite is 7–7.5 on the Mohs scale, with indistinct cleavage.
With no cleavage plane to worry about, the practical limit is abrasion rather than breakage, and it takes daily wear well.
Warm water, mild soap and a soft brush. Avoid ultrasonic cleaners on anything fracture-filled, stabilised, dyed or visibly included.
What indicolite costs
As a guide, indicolite trades around $50–1,500/ct.
That is a range, not a quote. Colour, size, clarity, cut and origin move the figure a long way inside it, and the only honest price is one given against a specific stone. Send us what you need and we will price it.
Questions
Is indicolite treated, and how?
Heated routinely to lighten over-dark stones.
Where does indicolite come from?
Minas Gerais, Brazil, Namibia, Afghanistan and Madagascar. Origin affects price, so we name the locality rather than the country on every quote.
Is indicolite hard enough to wear every day?
Yes. At 7–7.5 on the Mohs scale with no cleavage plane, it handles daily wear well. The practical limit is gradual abrasion rather than chipping.
How much does indicolite cost?
Indicatively $50–1,500/ct. Colour, size, clarity and origin move the price a long way within that, so treat it as a range and ask for a quote against a specific stone.
What is indicolite confused with?
Most often Paraíba, Apatite and Blue topaz. A refractive index of 1.620–1.640 and a specific gravity near 3.01–3.11 separate it quickly.
Related stones
Looking for indicolite?
Tell us the size, the quality and what it is for. We source it, photograph it and quote it — with the locality named.
Ask about indicolite