The facts
What watermelon tourmaline actually is
The species behind watermelon tourmaline is elbaite tourmaline, Na(Li,Al)₃Al₆(BO₃)₃Si₆O₁₈(OH)₄; it forms in the trigonal system.
Zoned manganese and iron in one crystal is responsible for the colour — and the chromophore, not the name, is what decides whether a colour is stable.
On the instruments it reads a refractive index of 1.620–1.640 and a specific gravity of about 3.01–3.11, with indistinct cleavage.
Where watermelon tourmaline comes from
Commercial material comes from Minas Gerais, Brazil, Afghanistan, Nigeria and Maine, USA.
Different localities give different colour and different clarity, and the trade prices them differently. We state which one.
How watermelon tourmaline is treated
Usually untreated because heat would even out the zoning that makes it valuable.
We state the treatment on every stone, including when the honest answer is that it cannot be determined. A treatment disclosed is a fact; a treatment discovered later is a refund.
What watermelon tourmaline is confused with
Watch for Assembled doublets — these are what turn up sold under this name.
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 watermelon tourmaline is used for
The trades that buy watermelon tourmaline are jewellery and mineral collecting. They do not want the same thing, and they do not pay in the same unit.
We quote each application in the unit that trade actually buys in, by the carat or by the specimen.
Durability and care
Hardness 7–7.5; cleavage indistinct. That combination decides what it can safely be set into.
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 watermelon tourmaline costs
Expect roughly $30–600/ct, depending on quality.
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 watermelon tourmaline treated, and how?
Usually untreated because heat would even out the zoning that makes it valuable.
Where does watermelon tourmaline come from?
Minas Gerais, Brazil, Afghanistan, Nigeria and Maine, USA. Origin affects price, so we name the locality rather than the country on every quote.
Is watermelon tourmaline 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 watermelon tourmaline cost?
Indicatively $30–600/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 watermelon tourmaline confused with?
Most often Assembled doublets. A refractive index of 1.620–1.640 and a specific gravity near 3.01–3.11 separate it quickly.
Related stones
Looking for watermelon tourmaline?
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 watermelon tourmaline