JNA Jan/ Feb 2021

市場情報 JNA Jan/Feb 2021 | 51 Kite-shaped Namibian ice blue tourmaline of 2.88 carats from Asia Lounges. Photography by Arjuna Irsutti Asia Lounges 的 2.88 克拉納米比 亞菱形冰藍色碧璽 (由 Arjuna Irsutti 拍攝) C oloured gemstone traders are upbeat about prospects for mint tourmalines, thanks to these stones’ invigorating colour, size and affordability. According to Josh Saltzman of lapidarist Nomad’s, tourmalines bearing a cool, mint colour have been gaining steam in the market since the company started operating about 20 years ago. In the mid-2000s, a deposit in the Laghman province of Afghanistan became a historical and important source of mint tourmalines, placing these beloved green gems in the international spotlight. US-based tourmaline expert Farooq Hashmi of Intimate Gems revealed that this area is still being mined today although mint tourmalines are occasionally found in numerous other locations in Africa. “This vibrant mint green was initially referred to as ‘seafoam.’ In Pakistan, they even call it ‘emerald colour.’ This electric mint green became the colour standard for high quality and value,” said Hashmi. Navneet Agarwal of Navneet Gems & Minerals in Thailand noted that the popularity of mint tourmalines was further bolstered by the recent discovery of the new Congo tourmaline mine in 2018. Tourmalines are currently mined in Afghanistan, Congo, Namibia, Nigeria, Mozambique, Brazil and even California. Still, the most sought-after mint tourmalines with “incredible primary body colour and better-balanced modifying colours” come from Afghanistan, said Peter Nelson, general manager of Nazo Anna. “Tourmaline crystals can also grow quite large and clean, allowing for truly exceptional gems to be cut from them,” he added. Mint appeal Mint is a widely used term in the trade that refers to a certain colour range – from neon, light-toned green to bluish green with a touch of yellow. “Mint tourmalines in the pastel range are so attractive to us today because they remind us of the colour of candies from our childhood,” said gem dealer and bespoke jeweller Simon Dussart of Asia Lounges in Thailand. He added that luxury houses like Hermès and Kenzo, to name a few, also helped boost consumer interest in bright colours such as minty green, which figures prominently in their fabric collections. Nelson of Nazo Anna explained that mint colours are particularly attractive to those who want to infuse vitality and youthfulness in their jewellery choices. Demand and supply Demand for this gem continues to be robust amid the Covid-19 pandemic due to its rarity. “The market’s appetite for mint tourmalines has never waned. Covid-19 has constricted the ability to travel and sell stones; not the desire to buy them. Even now, we still see movement in fine colours,” said Saltzman of Nomad’s. Nelson said clients interested in exceptional stones started buying again after the initial shock from the pandemic had abated. According to Asraf Sultan of Right Gems Supplier in Hong Kong, rising prices of indicolite and lagoon tourmaline made mint tourmalines a great alternative. Mint tourmalines from Afghanistan and Brazil are much favoured for their vivid and highly saturated colour while gems from Congo are lighter in colour. Mint tourmalines from Afghanistan and Brazil are also twice as expensive as their counterparts from Congo. Agarwal of Navneet sees strong sales in the 3-carat to the 20-carat range, adding that larger sizes are not moving as much during the pandemic. While smaller mining activities are taking place in Congo, production is not enough to meet current demand. Navneet’s major markets for mint tourmalines are the US, UK and Europe, followed by Hong Kong and Singapore. Mint tourmalines also have a following among Chinese buyers. Saltzman said mint tourmalines are popular in its main markets such as the US, Europe and Asia. Production of fine materials however remains intermittent and confined to a few mines. Saltzman explained that a parcel of fine rough mint tourmaline is rarely seen nowadays. “Currently, there is material coming out of Congo and Nigeria, but most of it is of commercial quality and not up to Nomad’s standards,” he continued. Hahsmi noted that Nigeria produces fine materials that can sometimes rival those from Afghanistan, but production is also low. Suhail Salahudeen of Star Lanka Co Ltd agreed that gem-quality mint tourmalines have become scarce while commercial-grade stones are abundant. Top-quality mint tourmalines command premium prices. For instance, 1-carat stones from Congo can sell for anywhere between US$100 to US$500 per carat while fine-quality stones could go for US$1,000 per carat.