The Red Umba Tourmaline And Diamond Ring
18ct Rose Gold Ring with 2.09ct Red Tourmaline and Diamonds
A beautiful 2.09ct trillion cut Red Tourmaline, set on an 18ct Rose Gold claw set band. Mounted with 27 round brilliant cut Diamonds, totalling 0.25ct (G colour and VS Clarity).
Ring size M: I can arrange complimentary re-sizing up to two sizes larger or smaller.
This Red Tourmaline:
This stunning Trillion cut Red Tourmaline is 2.09ct and 8.28mm high x 8.82mm wide x 5.61mm deep.
It was mined on the 10th June 2016. Mining Location : Umba River, Tanzania
I purchased it on the 20th November 2017.
The rough before cutting.
The cut stone.
Gem Certificate
Mining report
Tourmaline
In the misty Usambara Mountains of Tanzania, a dirt track winds down the valley following the northern tributary of the famous Umba River. From here the road heads southwards and then eastwards to the Gerevi Hills. As the Umba River meanders through these hills it has for centuries deposited a gem gravel on the twists and bends of the river. It is among these deposits that this Tourmaline was found.
It began “life” however many millions of years ago with a process called metamorphism. As magma pushed its way up through the existing rock the contact between the invading magma and the older rock caused a change to occur. The intense heat made the nearby minerals recrystallise into minerals stable at the higher temperature. This Tourmaline was one of these. Many millions of years later, as the Umba river eroded away the rock in its charge towards the Indian Ocean, it was dislodged from the rock in which it formed and carried with the river. During this time it was tumbled ferociously and rubbed and smashed against other rocks until its surface was smooth and most of the cracks and blemished in the crystal were broken off and worn down. The crystal was at some point deposited in the silts on one of the bends of the river near the Gerevi Hills. Here, it was panned out of the river by miners panning for gems and taken to Nairobi to be bartered at the local dealer’s offices. It found its way to Kenya and was bought and cut into a the beautiful piece you see today.
Caring for Tourmalines
It has a hardness of 7-7.5 on the Mohs Scale (similar to Emerald), Gems with a hardness of 6-7 or greater are quite suitable for rings which are worn occasionally. For a ring like a wedding or engagement ring, intended for everyday wear over a period of years, a hardness rating of 8-10 is recommended. Warm, soapy water is the best method for cleaning tourmaline. The use of ultrasonic and steam cleaners is not recommended.
