“Huh!” Green and Pink Maine Tourmaline Necklace

“Huh!”
The Gem Miners Were Surprised

Nature did something we still don’t fully understand. Nature created tourmaline in pink and green, in the same crystal. Gemologists have puzzled over this mystery for centuries. There are theories. Truth: they are just theories. I’ve been at the mine as 6 different gem pockets were opened, and watched as serious professional gem miners go “Huh!” as they opened a pocket and began pulling crystals out. The “Huh!” meant “There’s a surprise…” ‘Huh!’ means “I’ve never seen this before.”

I remember the Ice Cream Sundae puddle pocket. It was a “Huh!” pocket. The tourmaline crystals were long, green, slender, and remarkably clear. They were a beautiful shade of green and 30% of them had a pink pointy tip! The mine owner and the six guys that were pulling gems out, all had the “Huh!” response. No one had ever seen a crystal like it. A long, slender green with a pink pointy tip. You can see a 16 minute video of the Ice Cream Sundae pocket on our website.

Neither the pink nor green tourmaline in this necklace came from this Sparhawk mine. The green is from Mt. Mica, 50 miles north of our store. The pink triangle at the top was found at Plumbago Mountain, 75 miles north of our store.

This piece has a fine, rare, large green tourmaline cut in the “Twilight” style of cutting, and a separate pink tourmaline triangle at the top – simulating the “Huh!” crystals found at the Ice Cream Sundae discovery.

For nearly fifty years, Maine has been known for the outstanding clarity of our pink tourmaline. Maine has become world famous for the combination of beautiful color, outstanding clarity, and magnificent rare sizes in pink tourmaline.

Early on, we recognized this unique combination, and started collecting these amazing native gems. Since 1972, there have been no significant finds of pink in Maine, and these gems become rarer each day.

Maine Tourmaline, A Maine Story
An American Gem

First discovered in 1820 and in subsequent finds over the years, these early discoveries put Maine on the world map as a source for high-quality tourmaline gems. A major discovery in 1972 on Plumbago Mountain in Newry, Maine established Maine as a significant world source of fine tourmaline gemstones.

Cross recognized the historical significance of this find and began working closely with the miners of these magnificent gems. The close partnership continues today with the ongoing discoveries in Maine’s western mountains.

100% Natural

We go to Maine’s gem mines. We know the miners. We know the gem cutters. We guarantee our tourmaline to be from Maine and is 100% natural. Cross maintains the largest collection of fine Maine tourmaline jewelry in the world.

Window of Opportunity

Fifty years have passed since the major 1972 tourmaline find in Newry, Maine where they found 3.5 million carats of tourmaline crystals. Over the years we bought more than we sold knowing that gem finds don’t last forever. There are now colors, sizes, and shapes that are extremely rare and, in some cases, no longer available. If you see something you love it’s best to act quickly. There’s no guarantee another gem like this one exists.

Case in point: In 2007 there was a find of tourmaline in Newry, Maine called Eureka Blue. People loved the color. The gems sold quickly, but the find was small and the mining only lasted a few seasons. Within three years of the discovery, all the large Eureka gems had sold. We still get calls from people who are now ready to buy. What they want, however, simply no longer exists from that find in 2007.

Gem finds are rare, especially in North America. Maine tourmaline is a piece of Maine and American history, it’s a connection to a place we all love, an exquisite creation of nature. Today, there is a rare opportunity to own a bit of Maine/American pride and heritage, and history in choosing a piece of Maine tourmaline jewelry.