Tourmaline

Item Description

For a brief time in the early 2000s we saw a few finds each year from Vietnam, of interesting tourmalines. Most were opaque and frankly just locality pieces, but this pocket took me by surprise (about 2005 if I recall). It features exceptionally glassy crystals in radiating sprays, with a hot pink core from which shoot out greenish-tinged secondary crystals. The color gradient is subtle and hard to describe in words, but I think obvious in the photos. This specimen is large for the style, has excellent overall form, and has top luster. It has a small bit of attached mica on back (where it is contacted), and has some contact zones and minimal damage to the left side - but otherwise it is complete, and displays in any case very dramatically. The splayed-out nature of the habit is also well-developed here, making the piece more interesting than the typical "vertical stick" appearance of so many tourmalines. I have not seen more of this style in years now. Valued $3500-5000. Custom base ($100 value) is included. 389 grams