Tourmaline boasts a unique and versatile color palette, is durable and resistant to degradation, and exudes a captivating beauty that draws the attention of countless jewelry enthusiasts. Led by the Asian market, it’s now sparking a new wave in the global gemstone industry.

Nomad’s Blue Tourmaline Rough Stone

“We’ve introduced a variety of raw materials sourced from the Erongo region in Namibia, southwestern Africa, and since their launch, they’ve been incredibly popular—especially the Lagoon Blue and Mint Green shades. Buyers seem particularly captivated by these vivid, bright colors,” said Mr. Saltzman. “These brightly colored tourmalines are considered new varieties in Namibia. Currently, the best-selling shades are Lagoon Blue, Mint Green, and Blue Tourmaline.”

Asia, particularly Singapore, Taiwan, China, Japan, and Hong Kong, is Nomad’s largest market for tourmaline. Buyers from Europe and the U.S. also have a strong affinity for tourmaline; they mainly choose larger, pillow-cut tourmalines for pendants.

Nomad’s Fluorescent Blue-Green Tourmaline

Nomad’s Lagoon Blue Tourmaline

“Pink is also quite popular, yet it’s relatively rare. The supply of raw materials on the market simply can’t keep up with demand, making it rather difficult to find beautifully soft pink tourmaline. Often, the color of the rough stones isn’t very appealing, so it’s hardly surprising that they don’t enjoy much popularity either.” Despite a slowdown in market demand in regions such as Asia, sales of pink tourmaline remain strong.

He went on to say that one or two years ago, Asians were particularly fond of pink and peach tourmalines; however, their preferences have now become more diversified, with collectors seeking out various gemstone varieties based on quality and color.

“Tourmaline has consistently enjoyed stable sales and remains one of our best-selling products. We anticipate that demand for tourmaline will remain steady over the coming months.”

Nikhil Agrawal of Grace Gems Ltd., a U.S. gem company, pointed out that the Asian market is one of the biggest driving forces behind the growing demand for tourmaline.

“Tourmaline has been a long-standing bestseller, mainly because its dazzling array of colors appeals to customers,” said Mr. Agrawal. “Over the past few years, tourmaline’s popularity has surged in Asia, and Chinese customers, in particular, can’t get enough of it.”

Grace Gems’ customers come from Southeast Asia, China, Taiwan, South Korea, and Japan, and we also have a stable customer base in Europe and the U.S.

Mr. Agrawal said that because red symbolizes good fortune and auspiciousness in China, pink tourmaline remains the most popular choice. Tourmalines in blue-green hues are also very popular. Orange and purple—colors with a distinctly exotic flair—also have a dedicated following.

Tricolor tourmaline

Tourmaline comes in a variety of colors.

“The tourmaline market can be described as bright and promising. While we welcome the exploration of new markets, for now we’d like to focus on developing China—a market brimming with opportunities and limitless potential. Education and training are also crucial; tourmaline is attracting increasing attention, and demand is steadily rising.” — Nikhil Agrawal, Grace Gems Ltd

“Of course, Paraíba tourmalines with greenish-blue hues are also very popular. The more people in the market become aware of this tourmaline, the higher its demand will rise—and the higher its price will go.”

As a tourmaline expert, Mr. Agrawal points out that tourmaline is durable and resistant to deterioration, making it an ideal collectible for jewelry enthusiasts—especially Paraíba tourmaline.

“As far as I’m concerned, the tourmaline market is truly bright and promising. We welcome the exploration of new markets, but for now, we’d like to focus on developing China—a market brimming with opportunities and limitless potential. Education and training are also crucial; tourmaline is attracting increasing attention, and demand is steadily rising.”