Rubellite
Tourmaline group
Color: pink to red
Moh's hardness: 7 - 7.5
Rubellite gemstones come from the colorful family of the tourmalines. The name rubellite derives from the Latin "rubellus" and means "reddish". Its color ranges from shocking pink to deep red, sometimes with a violet tint. Deep ruby red rubellites are the most valuable.
An important criterion for a "reddish" tourmaline to call itself rubellite is that the color does not change its behavior depending on daylight and artificial light. A true rubellite shines as intensely in both daylight and artificial light, whereas other pink or red tourmalines can display a slight tinge of brown in artificial light.
Inclusions in this gemstone are looked upon with favor as it adds an interesting touch to the brilliance of the stone. Inclusions should be subtle and not affect the way light passes through the stone.
Rubellites are mainly found in Brazil, Madagascar, Mozambique, Nigeria, Pakistan and the United States.