Elbaite with Lepidolite

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Sometimes with gem tourmaline crystals it is not the size that is important, but the overall aesthetics, of which colour and lustre play a major part. This charming miniature Elbaite specimen from Dara-i-Pech Pegmatite Field in Konar Province, Afghanistan is a prime example, presenting a brightness which is difficult to capture other than in person. Bi-coloured, from strawberry-pink upwards into a sea-green, it is its perfect termination which dazzles in both lustre and colour. Soft pink rosettes of Lepidolite partially surround the base of the 4.4 cm tall gem Elbaite crystal, adding a wonderful pastel-coloured shade to complement the subtle-yet mesmerizing quality of the sea-green colour - a tone so rarely seen in tourmalines. This specimen comes with a custom-made acryllic Sunnywood display stand and the tourmaline has one recorded restoration.