Some forms of tourmaline gemstones can sell for tens of thousands of dollars per carat. Compared with black tourmaline, obsidian can give a similar style for a fraction of the price.
But what are the differences between obsidian vs. tourmaline? The key differences are the processes that form these stones and how designers use these stones in jewelry.
What Is Obsidian?
Obsidian is a black, glossy rock made from cooled volcanic magma. When a volcano erupts, sometimes magma or melted rock, that comes out cools slowly and forms crystals. Other times it cools quickly and forms a glass-like substance.
Not all forms of volcanic glass formed are obsidian. Obsidian has a specific chemical composition found in rhyolitic or “obsidian” felsic lava.
The purest forms of obsidian are usually black. Impurities cause variations in the stone’s appearance.
For example, the mineral cristobalite can create blotchy impurities to form snowflake obsidian. Red or brown shades of obsidian contain forms of iron oxide. Feldspar in the obsidian can make blue, green, or even rainbow obsidian.
The most common form of obsidian is black, however. Obsidian occurs near volcanoes around the world, including the western United States.
What Is Tourmaline?
Tourmaline includes a lot of minerals formed with boron silicate. It is the birthstone for October and is a popular stone for jewelry.
Unlike obsidian, which forms quickly from volcanic eruptions, tourmaline forms in hydrothermal fractures in the earth. Hot water vapor carries elements in an area where they cool and grow into crystals.
Tourmaline comes from mines around the world, but some of the most in-demand kinds come from Paraiba, Brazil. These gems have an intense blue color and are highly sought after.
In general, tourmaline can come in any color of the rainbow, from red and pink to blues, greens, and yellows. Some even come in layers of colors within a single gemstone! Schorl is the name of black tourmaline.
Obsidian vs. Tourmaline: The Differences in Jewelry
In addition to their formation, obsidian and tourmaline can provide different looks in jewelry.
Obsidian can be faceted, smooth cut, or even made into beads. It has a glossy sheen and is often opaque. Tourmaline is often made into a faceted gemstone for setting. One of the benefits of black tourmaline, compared with obsidian, is that it can be cut to be a transparent or translucent gemstone. This allows it to have even more sparkle in a setting.
Which Type of Jewelry Is Right for You?
Although both are stunning pieces to add to your jewelry collection, there are some reasons to choose one over the other. If you’re trying to decide between obsidian vs. tourmaline, a key factor to consider is size.
Because of how it is formed, you can often find larger pieces of obsidian than cut black tourmaline. These will work better for pendants. One of the benefits of tourmaline is that it can be faceted to allow light to shine through it. This works well for elegant pendants, earrings, and rings.
No matter which you choose, obsidian or tourmaline provides a stunning addition to any fashionable look.
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