Tourmaline is classified as a semiprecious stone and occurs in a vast array of colors, everything from colorless to black, from pastel to bright to dark. It can even exhibit various colors within the same specimen. Its name derives from the Sinhalese word “turamali,” which translates to “stone of many colors.” Due to this variety of colors, Tourmaline has often been confused with other stones. Many stones in the Russian crown jewels from the 17th century which were thought to be rubies are actually red Tourmaline.
