Pink Tourmaline

Pink Elbaite Tourmaline is also referred to as Rubellite, and is found in shades varying from deep, almost ruby to pale pinks. Pink Tourmaline is a variety of Elbaite Tourmaline also called Rubellite. It was a favoured gemstone of Chinese Empress Tzu Hsi, who imported the pink gemstones via Tiffany's, from the San Diego mines in California. Over a period of 8 years in the early 1900s, Imperial China imported no less than 120 tons of gem quality pink Tourmaline. When she died in 1908, she was laid to rest on a pillow of Pink Tourmaline. Red and Pink Tourmalines were also one of the gemstones used to designate the highest rank of Chinese Mandarins, along with rubies.