For she who understands grace, beauty, God’s art-in-motion and the soul-felt connection between rider and horse, we offer the Equestrian Maine Tourmaline Ring. A handsome, low-profile, comfortable, wearable ring. A practical and protective design. Side reins of gold secure the inner circle of platinum. Set with a single brilliant green Maine tourmaline…a winning combination.
William Would Approve
Forest Green Maine Tourmaline Ring
100 years ago my great grandfather or his shop, made this design. The ring was in Cross’ archival collection of over 1,000 masters. I saw it for the first time 50 years ago. It looked remarkably modern then, now 50 years later it still looks remarkably modern. We did a little updating, not much, just a touch here and there. Back in the 1920s William was experimenting with modern gem cutting machines. Not machines he bought, machines he made. That, together with gems coming out of the ground just 30 miles north of our store, provided William with an unlimited number of tourmaline to experiment with.
William Cross loved Maine tourmaline. He cut 100s of gems, so many we still have lots of his originals. This gem Maine tourmaline is not one of the gems William cut. What is significant though, is William’s great grandson recognized the originality of this ring design and how important Maine tourmaline was to William and in a collaboration spanning 100 years, brought William’s favorite gem tourmaline together with this unusually modern design to create this masterpiece of the jeweler’s art.
The ring is called Equestrian. It’s 18K yellow gold with a center halo of platinum. The tourmaline is recessed-set, solidly, safely, securely, low, close to the finger and the center rim, and it is poised within 4 beads of yellow gold in the north, south, east, and west positions. The forest green Maine tourmaline weighs .91 carat. The ring has a true presence on the hand. If you’re into horses, this really should be your ring.
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.
