Rubellite, Indicolite, and Verdelite are three of the better-known varieties of tourmaline. Rubellite refers to tourmalines in the pink to red colors. Indicolite refers to blue stones in all shades and verdelite tourmalines are many shades of green. Today however, it is more common to refer to tourmalines by their color rather than their trade name. In either case, color intensity is a key factor in determining the overall value and desirability of a stone. In today’s market, red tourmalines resembling rubies and intense greens resembling emeralds are highly valued.

Fancy-colored tourmalines are not as well known as the pinks and greens but nonetheless extremely rich in color variation. The colors range from pale yellows, pinks and peaches to deep champagnes, bronzes and burgundys.

Sources: Tourmaline is produced in many mines worldwide. Sri-Lanka, Brazil, and Mozambique have very productive deposits. India, Australia, Thailand, Russia and the U.S. also have tourmaline deposits.