1 / 6
The Vivid Vault · No. 004
17ct Lagoon Tourmaline From Namibia
Lagoon Blue-Green · Flawless · 17 Carats
Available
US$1,700 per carat
US$28,900 for the 17ct stone
About A$41,000 for the stone
Priced in US dollars, the currency of the gem trade. The final price is confirmed when you enquire.
US$1,700 a carat is the wholesale price, what gem dealers pay each other. In a retail setting, expect two to three times that again.
- OriginNamibia
- ColourLagoon blue-green
- ShapeOval
- Weight17 carats
- ClarityFlawless
- Lab ReportOn request
This stone is from my own private collection. View it in Canberra, Sydney, Brisbane or the Gold Coast, by appointment.
The Details
- Gemstone
- Lagoon Tourmaline
- Origin
- Namibia
- Colour
- Cyan and verdant blue-green
- Weight
- 17 carats
- Cut
- Oval
- Clarity
- Flawless
- Lab report
- Certification on request
- Price
- US$1,700 a carat · US$28,900
- Status
- Available
What Is a Lagoon Tourmaline?
Lagoon Tourmalines are named for tropical waters, because they share the same cyan and verdant hues.
Tourmaline is one of the most collectible crystals on the planet. When a large, flawless crystal comes out of the ground, mineral collectors usually keep it whole as a specimen rather than let it be cut. That’s part of what makes a cut stone like this so rare.
The recent Paraíba discovery in Ethiopia has sent Tourmaline prices to a whole new level again. With Paraíba Tourmalines selling for US$40,000 to US$70,000 a carat, a Lagoon Tourmaline is a much more affordable option, with huge potential.
Flawless Clarity
How often in life do you see a flawless gemstone?
When collectors choose investment-grade gems, they judge clarity two ways. Eye clean means you can’t see anything inside the stone with your eyes alone. Loupe clean means you still can’t find anything under a jeweller’s 10x loupe.
This Tourmaline goes further. It’s flawless. Even under a microscope, you can’t see a single inclusion.
In the Diamond world, flawless stones are so rare that most jewellers have never even seen one. Now picture a flawless Tourmaline at 17 carats, in a lagoon colour like this.
Size, colour and clarity, all in one stone. That’s the dream every collector is chasing.
It Sparkles Like a Disco Ball
Look into the bottom of this stone and you’ll see its facets shimmering and shining like a disco ball.
That’s light at work. It comes in through the top, bounces off the facets underneath and flashes back out at you. Jewellers call those flashes scintillation, and a big, beautifully cut stone like this one is full of them.
Tourmaline is also doubly refractive. It splits light in two as it passes through the stone.
Every turn throws back flashes of cyan and green. Such a pretty stone.
Why US$1,700 a Carat
Gem dealers buy from each other at wholesale prices. For a Lagoon Tourmaline like this, that’s US$1,700 a carat.
In the Vault, that’s what you pay: US$28,900 for the stone. You pay the wholesale price, with no retail markup on top. In a retail setting, you’d expect to pay two to three times that again.
Where Lagoon Tourmalines Come From
Today, two localities supply most of the world’s Lagoon Tourmaline: Afghanistan and Namibia. Neither one gives it up easily.
| Locality | The mines | How the stones come out | Today |
|---|---|---|---|
| Afghanistan | Pegmatite pockets in the mountains of Nuristan, Laghman and Kunar | Dug by hand, in small batches. Most rough crosses the border to be traded in Peshawar, Pakistan | Still producing, but on and off, depending on the security situation |
| Namibia | The Erongo region: Neu Schwaben, Usakos and Katjanga | One pocket at a time, sometimes years apart | Only a couple of larger mines still work |
Namibia’s great finds come and go. A big pocket at Neu Schwaben in 1996 and 1997 set off a rush of miners. A pocket at Usakos in 2005 gave neon blue stones that are virtually impossible to find today, and then the mine went quiet until 2016.
Afghanistan still sends out fine blue and green Tourmaline, but the flow rises and falls with the country’s troubles.
This is one of the finest examples from Namibia.
Lab Report on Request
This stone isn’t certified yet. On serious request, we’ll arrange certification from a globally reputable lab.
Make It Your Heirloom
Picture it in a pendant or a cocktail ring made just for you: a flawless 17 carat Lagoon Tourmaline, handed down for generations.
Send me your ideas and we’ll design it together. If you’re a collector who wants the stone loose, call me and we’ll talk.
This stone is from my own private collection. View it in Canberra, Sydney, Brisbane or the Gold Coast, by appointment.
Questions About Lagoon Tourmaline
What is a Lagoon Tourmaline?
A Tourmaline named for tropical waters, because it shares their cyan and verdant hues. With Paraíba Tourmalines now selling for US$40,000 to US$70,000 a carat, a Lagoon Tourmaline is a much more affordable option, with huge potential.
Where is this Tourmaline from?
Namibia, one of the two main localities for Lagoon Tourmaline. Namibia’s Erongo region is famous for blue-green Tourmalines.
What does flawless mean?
No inclusions at all. This Tourmaline goes beyond eye clean and loupe clean: even under a microscope, you can’t see a single inclusion.
Is Tourmaline tough enough to wear?
Yes. Tourmaline rates 7 to 7.5 out of 10 for hardness. It’s a great choice for a pendant or a cocktail ring.
What anniversary is Tourmaline?
The 8th. Tourmaline is also a birthstone for October. See every year in the anniversary gemstones guide.
Is this Tourmaline certified?
Not yet. On serious request, we’ll arrange certification from a globally reputable lab.
How much is this Tourmaline in Australian dollars?
About A$41,000 at today’s exchange rate. It’s priced in US dollars: US$1,700 a carat, or US$28,900 for the stone. The final price is confirmed when you enquire. Once we agree, it’s locked at that day’s exchange rate and you have 48 hours to pay.
Can I see the Tourmaline in person?
Yes. View it in Canberra, Sydney, Brisbane or the Gold Coast, by appointment. Call us on 0401 683 671.
