Bluecap watermelon Tourmaline (classic find, late 1990s)

Item Description

Sapo Mine watermelon bluecaps are some of the most recognizable and desirable tourmalines in the world, along with Jonas reds and California bluecaps from the 1970s and Pederneira Mine specimens. This striking watermelon tourmaline has a 7 mm, gorgeous gem indicolite blue upper section with a frosted termination and a fantastic 4 mm parallel-growth indicolite "antenna". The side car crystals add real pizzazz to the very glassy, well-striated crystal. Complete all-around and in great shape, there is one clean repair 1.2 cm below the termination and is certainly acceptable in the context of pegmatite specimens. This is an exceptional, dramatic and very aesthetic Sapo Mine tourmaline. The 2009 Mineralogical Record article on this locale has definitely increased their value. 12 grams mass. Valued at $3000-4000 fairly as I see many show dealers price them at what they tell me is "$1000 per 1cm.". This piece has been in Brazil in the personal collection of a dealer friend of mine, since the find in the late 1990s with a collector, until last month.