Tourmaline (Blue Cap)

Unknown Owner

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These bluecap tourmalines are now Brazilian classics, and treasured when they come up again for sale out of collections. This is a very richly colored, bluecapped tourmaline from the now famous pockets of the late 1990s at important mine (at the time, it was relatively little-known!). I would say this pocket will be remembered as one of the most important tourmaline finds for the collector, recognizable by style to a single find. These bluecaps were the hit of the tourmaline market at the time, and no more have been found there to this day. I have seen them selling by the gram in some places, at quite a bit higher prices. This one, is one of the finest-terminated examples I have seen for all these reasons: intense color, glassy luster, and interesting sloping termination instead of the more common flat top with matte luster. Only 1 in 100 crystals had a fancy termination like this, and the size of the piece makes it significant as well. Although not damaged, there is a clean lock-fit repair about 3 cm down from the termination. The crystal is complete all around, 360 degrees. This is a cull from the well-known German tourmaline collection of Klaus Neumann - not because he has a better one either. Rather, a shift of focus is the reason to part with it. This is a MAJOR, impactful example of the find. 107 grams.Joe Budd Photos