Rubellite is the name given to red to pink tourmaline, and the name itself comes from the Latin rubellus, meaning reddish, a nod to how closely the finest material can resemble ruby.
The pink and red colour in rubellite comes from manganese within the crystal structure. Higher manganese content generally produces a deeper, more saturated colour, which is one reason the most vivid rubellite specimens command the highest prices among tourmaline varieties.
Afghanistan and Pakistan's pegmatites produce rubellite alongside the region's better known bi-colour and watermelon material, and Afghan rubellite in particular is valued for its clarity.
At 7 to 7.5 on the Mohs scale, rubellite is durable enough for daily jewellery wear, and it is one of the more popular tourmaline varieties for rings and pendants because of its ruby like colour at a fraction of ruby's price.
Browse our Rubellite (Pink) Tourmaline collection.