Tourmaline gemstones have a fascinating feature known as pleochroism, which means that they can show different colors or depths of color when viewed from different angles. For example, a single tourmaline crystal could appear dark green from one angle and a lighter green from another. Some tourmaline varieties can even exhibit several colors in one crystal, which is why you might find a single tourmaline with a gradient from pink to green, termed “watermelon tourmaline” due to its resemblance to the fruit.
Additionally, tourmaline can become electrically charged when heated and then allowed to cool, or when put under pressure (a property known as pyroelectricity). When charged, it can attract or repel dust particles and small bits of paper, essentially acting like a tiny magnet. This property was well-known to Dutch sailors in the 1700s, who used the gem to remove ash from their meerschaum tobacco pipes, earning tourmaline the nickname “aschentrekker” or “ash puller.”
