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  4. Another Gemstone Takes A Journey
Jewelry Education

Another Gemstone Takes A Journey

Published: Sep 5, 2023
Another Gemstone Takes A Journey
Author: 
Vicky Boyce
French has been fortunate, during his 27 years in business, to establish relationships with several highly regarded stone dealers.  Those relationships have resulted in many fine gemstones passing through our door.

Today’s posting is about a beautiful 6.40ct Rubellite Tourmaline set in an 18k yellow gold Alex Sepkus “J’s Garden” ring (our inventory #200-01753).

What is a Rubellite Tourmaline?
 Rubellite is the red or pink variety of Tourmaline. The name comes from the Latin word rubellus, meaning "reddish” and was first used in 1794.  It is sometimes confused with other red gemstones, in fact one of the “rubies” in the Russian Crown Jewels, the Caesar’s Ruby Pendant, is actually a Rubellite Tourmaline.

Where does the journey of our Rubellite start?
Our stone’s journey started in a privately owned artisanal mine, the Angwan Doka. It is close to a town named Keffi in the state of Nasarawa in central Nigeria,  where there are numerous tourmaline-bearing “pegmatites” (subterranean intrusions of magma).  

In the area surrounding the town of Keffi are several Tourmaline bearing pegmatites.  These pegmatites vary greatly in dimensions and composition, resulting in a veritable kaleidoscope of colors produced from one mine to the next. The highest quality of Tourmalines come from the Doka Mine (famous for its beautiful pink, peach, a bi-or tri-color blend of golden yellow, pink and green which they call “autumn”) and, rarely, a canary yellow; and the Tudun Mine, which is the source of gorgeous blue and green Tourmalines.

On a small hill south-east of Keffi, the Angwan Doka pegmatite has been mined for the last 30 years.  The kilometer long pegmatite is several meters in thickness and dips steeply into the ground.  The easily accessible areas are mined out and the pits are much deeper, some up to 16 meters. Drills and explosives are used by the miners to reach these pockets of Tourmalines. Production in pegmatite mining is often irregular with the last major strike happening in 2017 and 2018, when several pockets of high-quality Tourmalines were found.

And then what?
Our Rubellite now passes from the mining company or co-op to a local broker who in turn shows it to the representative of our gem dealer. Our gem dealer then turns the rough stone into the stunning stone we purchased.  The cutting of a fine gemstone is only done by the most talented of gem cutters.  It is a fine and exacting art requiring years of training and a natural talent to find the beauty hidden within.

The end?
Every gem carries a story.  The origin, and the journey our Rubellite has taken to the cutters wheel is forever intertwined with this stunning Alex Sepkus ring. 

Will you join the journey?
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