The Sinhalese word turamalli, which means “stone of various colors,” is where tourmaline gets its name. According to legend from ancient Egypt, tourmaline traveled from the center of the earth, skimming over a rainbow and gathering its various colors along the way. The newest and most valuable member of the diverse tourmaline family is the Paraiba. Paraiba tourmalines come in a variety of vibrant, almost otherworldly hues, including emerald, neon greens, neon blues, sapphire blue, sky blue, blue-violet, indigo, and purple. None of the other stones on earth naturally contain some of these remarkable hues. The Paraiba tourmaline is uncommon among tourmalines in that it contains manganese and copper, which gives the stone its rare bright colors.

Heitor Dimas made the discovery of the Paribas in the federal state of Paraba in 1987. There are a few mines in Brazil that are reasonably close to one another, spanning from the original location in the state of Paraba to the state of Rio Grande do Norte, but the most valuable stones still come from the original Batalha mine, now known as Heitorita. Brazilian Paraiba are found in primary deposits and were created in pegmatites. The frequently broken crystals, which are typically smaller than 5 carats in size, are found in thin veins. These precious stones are getting smaller and more valuable as time goes on. The Dragon Eye Brazilian Paraiba is 27.5 carats and truly a once in a lifetime discovery.