We asked our amazing followers what they would like to know about our Future Heirloom Collection over on our Instagram recently. We had a lot of questions about our incredible Hero Ring & the difference between green tourmaline versus emerald, so we thought we'd answer this question here!

What is Green Tourmaline?
It is said, that in the 1500s in Brazil, a Spanish conquistador washed the dirt from a green tourmaline crystal and confused the vibrant green gem with emerald. This confusion remained until the 1800s when scientists recognized tourmaline as its own mineral. The name of the gemstone comes from the word "touramalli" which means “mixed gems” in Sinhalese (a language of Sri Lanka).

Tourmalines come in a large variety of vivid colours - in fact it has the widest colour ranges of any gemstones. Green Tourmaline or Chrome Tourmaline is coloured by chromium, traces of iron and even titanium. It is often darker in colour than emerald but can be known to offer more clarity.

What is Emerald?
In mythology, emerald is said to be the stone of the Goddess Venus, resulting in the association of emeralds with romance. Emeralds are said to bring passion, bliss, and unconditional love.

Emeralds are a gemstone from the beryl mineral family that are rich and green in colour. Similar to green tourmaline, emeralds are coloured by trace amounts of chromium and sometimes vanadium.

What is the difference?
As emeralds are part of the beryl family, they are known to have a hardness of 7.5–8 on the Mohs scale. Most emeralds are highly included, which adds to their unique charm.

Tourmaline ranks 7 to 7.5 on the Mohs scale. Its toughness is considered Fair. Tourmaline is also generally stable to light and isn’t affected by exposure to chemicals however heat can damage a tourmaline.

What is an emerald cut?
Did you know that gemstones and diamonds can have an Emerald Cut? This is a rectangular shaped cut, with usually cropped corners. Our incredible Hero Ring features this stunning cut. At over 500 years old, emerald cut rings are one of the oldest gemstone cuts in the world. They became wildly popular in the 1920s as a symbol of women’s strength and independence.

Want to take a closer look at any of the Heirloom Rings mentioned above? Book a complimentary Virtual Appointment and let one of our in-the-know VIP care team can help you find the perfect piece!