Watermelon Patch Maine Tourmaline
A heart of pink, a rind of green,
Held secure by curling tendrils of precious gold.
New Watermelon Patch Tourmaline Jewelry
There was an amazing discovery of Maine tourmaline in our western mountains of Maine in 1972. This was over a half-century ago. By all logic the ’72 tourmaline discovery should have been gone decades ago.
There was a guy from Ohio, Ron, who 50 years ago bought all the leftover pink and green tourmaline and turned them into beautiful jewelry. We later named the collection Watermelon Patch Tourmaline because he made the mountings in gold with twisty curly vines. Beautifully made with exquisite craftsmanship.
Seven years ago Ron was running out of material, or so we thought. I talked with Ron recently and guilted him into digging a bit deeper into his reserves. To see if there were some pink and green crystals he’d been holding back. He indicated that was a possibility. I asked if he would be willing to release some of his half-century treasures. At first, he said “”No!’ Then in the spring he said, “He’d get right on it”.
Today is June 25 and we have acquired the gems, photographing, and putting them up online. Some of the best and last pieces of watermelon patch tourmaline jewelry. We have 35 new pieces of watermelon patch tourmaline. It’s been 7 years since we had any new pieces of Ron’s masterpiece. Will there ever be more? Probably not. We don’t have to say it out loud why you should study this collection closely.
Last Call
We had a decade of watermelon patch jewelry. Natural slices of watermelon showing both pink and green tourmaline from the world’s largest tourmaline gem find in Maine in 1972.
This is legend and reality. Ron, a cowboy-like midwestern entrepreneur with a passion and love for everything Maine, traveled east 36 years ago and bought from one of our gem miners the trimmings from big watermelon crystals. He invested time and loaded his van with these tourmaline trimmings. Somewhere along the way he sliced and diced these trimmings into slim, sleek art forms of 200 million year old gems. He then developed a gold sweep similar to the twisting, curling vine of watermelons growing on the vine. Each crystal is custom cut. Each vine wrapping is custom hand-fitted in 14 karat yellow gold.
Over a ten year period we found good homes for hundreds of our watermelon patch earrings and necklaces. They were beautiful, we stopped selling because it appeared that Ron was running out of material. For many years it appeared Ron’s supply would last forever. Alas, all good things come to an end. In January of 2026 Ron and I were talking and he reiterated that he had come to the end of his legendary stash.
I said, “Ron, I know that you as a collector still have some choice crystals put away that you’ve labeled someday, never, and maybe but really never. It’s been 7 years since we’ve bought any. I would like for you to look into your safe and find some of your choice lost watermelon crystals, and commit to making one more grand finale of watermelon patch tourmaline”. He said, “I can’t, they are just too beautiful”.
I said, “From one collector to another, one last grand finale you and I owe it to the world”. I asked, “If you start now, when could we have a breathtaking group to present to the world?” Ron said, “The 4th of July.” I said, “Let’s do it”. Ron asked, “you’ll wait that long?” I said, “Watermelon patch was one of our most popular Maine tourmaline offerings. So I’ll plan on seeing you early summer. Ron said, “It will be good to visit again.”
Late, late spring Ron sent a package of 89 watermelon patch earrings and necklaces. It was a choice group. I and my shop reviewed the collection and chose the 35 best. If you ever saw, thought, felt, you might like one of our watermelon patch tourmaline necklaces or earrings. This could be your last grand opportunity. Study this collection, the 35 as chosen are superb.
Real Gems from Maine
It’s possible to look and not see. And it’s also possible to look and truly see. This is a wonder of nature. Earth 200 million years ago stirred its soup of rare earth, rock, assembling the right elements, cooking and creating crystals in total darkness. In tourmaline, somehow creating part of the crystal in pink and part in green, to the delight of jewelers and customers millions of years later.
For a half-century big pink and green crystals from the 1972 discovery have been available. We are nearing the end. A half-century is a long time. We have 12,000 email friends; this offering will go out to all 12,000. 35 of you will have an opportunity to consider this grand end of the line collection.
We asked our partner to search deep into the back of his stash for things that he’s been saving. I know he’s a collector and he’s got some more. I know because I am a collector too. This is a great group of watermelon patch jewelry. Real gems from Maine, real gold. This is your chance. This is your opportunity.
