
Black on white, white on black. Black tie and tails. Dinner by candlelight. The Art Deco dream. Here the edges of Austrian Lace meet platinum and diamonds.
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 of 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 early on and began working closely with the miners of these magnificent gems. The close partnership continues today with ongoing discoveries in Maine’s western mountains.
It was the discovery of pink tourmaline in 1972 that made the world sit up and take notice of this new find of gems in Maine’s western mountains. For thirty years, gem cutters all over the world luxuriated in an abundance of exquisite pink Maine tourmaline. In the last 10 years, as we approached the 50-year mark, the availability of pink Maine tourmaline has dropped off. This gem was recently cut. This size and color of Maine tourmaline is exceedingly rare. If you like this ring, don’t wait. We have just one.
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 discovery 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 that another gem like this one exists.
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 this rare opportunity to own a bit of Maine/American pride, heritage, and history in choosing a piece of Maine tourmaline jewelry.