Introduction

Discovered in 1978, Jonas became instantly famous for producing the world’s finest cranberry-red rubellite crystals. Some of these were enormous—over a foot long—yet still gemmy, with rich color that has never been equaled elsewhere. Jonas crystals are usually freestanding single crystals rather than matrix pieces. They often display a flat, glassy termination and striated sides. Even small Jonas thumbnails are coveted today, while cabinet specimens are among the most valuable tourmalines ever mined.

Perhaps the most legendary find of all time occurred at the Jonas Mine (Itatiaia) in 1978, where miners uncovered a pocket containing “the largest and finest crystals of rubellite tourmaline ever seen”. This discovery – about 3.6 tons of high-quality rubellite, including huge transparent red crystals – stunned the world. The Jonas rubellites exhibit a superb cranberry-red color that remains “unrivaled to this day”, setting the standard for red tourmaline’s quality. Top Jonas crystals (some up to a foot long or more) are intensely colored, gemmy and lustrous, usually found loose in clay pockets rather than on matrix. They are exceedingly rare and reside in elite collections; even small Jonas rubellite thumbnails are considered must-have classics