Gold layer
Top
14k Gold-Filled
Up to 15% of total weight
Gold-Plated
Ultra-thin layer
Ships in 2–3 working days
14-day right of withdrawal
Julia and about 11.500+ Nature lovers love & trust ByCarola.
Handcrafted · Signature Collection
Cylinder Tourmaline Necklace
October birthstone · handmade
incl. VAT, plus shipping
-
- 925 sterling silver or 14K gold-filled
- Fine chain in 45 cm (17.7 in) or 40 cm (15.7 in)
- Stone size: about 8 to 10 mm
- Pendant and chain are water-resistant
- October birthstone
Handmade in Germany
Stone From Brazil
In stock
Real & Treated
Lumière very good
With you in 3–6 working days (DE)
Real customer photos
Thousands of happy customers since 2019
The Stone: Black Tourmaline from the Tourmaline Group
Black tourmaline goes by the mineralogical name schorl and belongs to the tourmaline group, a family of boron-bearing ring silicates made up mainly of sodium, iron, aluminum, boron, and silicon. Its deep black comes from the iron in its crystal structure. The mineral crystallizes in the trigonal system and grows as an elongated prism with a triangular cross-section and fine lengthwise striations. With a Mohs hardness of 7 to 7.5, it is one of the more durable gemstones. A special feature of tourmalines is their pyroelectricity: when the crystal is warmed, its ends become electrically charged.
Material and Craftsmanship
You can choose between 925 sterling silver and warm 14K gold-filled. 14K gold-filled is a real, thick layer of gold that is firmly bonded to a base metal. Unlike simple gold plating, which is applied only wafer-thin, wears off over time, and fades fairly quickly, 14K gold-filled keeps its warm gold tone for years. The stone is cut and polished into a slim cylinder with six sides and two points. It is a genuine natural stone, but it has been treated, and I want to be upfront about that. The pendant hangs on a fine chain, and you choose its length when you order: 45 cm (17.7 in) or 40 cm (15.7 in).
Meaning of the Stone
The name schorl comes from the Ore Mountains in Saxony, where it shows up as early as the 16th century, when the black mineral was first described. For centuries, the stone was worn as an amulet. By tradition, it stands for grounding, setting boundaries, and inner calm. As a birthstone for October, it also makes this tourmaline necklace a particularly personal gift.
Caring for Your Tourmaline Necklace
The pendant and chain are water-resistant and suitable for everyday wear. To make your necklace last as long as possible, though, avoid prolonged contact with salt water and chlorinated water, as well as perfume, lotions, and harsh cleaning products. After contact with seawater or pool water, it's best to rinse the necklace with clean water and dry it carefully.
Because the stone has been treated, it doesn't belong in ultrasonic cleaners or steam cleaners, and it should be protected from high heat and sudden changes in temperature. Store your necklace dry and apart from harder pieces of jewelry, because even a stone this hard can chip at the edges if it gets knocked. That way, the deep black of your stone stays even and calm for years.
From the tourmaline group
Mineralogists call black tourmaline schorl, a boron-bearing ring silicate with a Mohs hardness of 7 to 7.5.
Black from iron
Schorl owes its black color to iron in its crystal structure, a feature of the whole tourmaline group.
October birthstone
Alongside opal, tourmaline is the official birthstone for October and is linked to the zodiac signs Libra and Scorpio.
Black tourmaline was worn as an amulet centuries ago. Traditionally, it stands for grounding, separation and inner peace and, as the birthstone of October, is a personal gift.
100% genuine black tourmaline (schorl), treated
- 925 sterling silver or 14K gold-filled
- Fine chain in 45 cm (17.7 in) or 40 cm (15.7 in)
- Stone size: about 8 to 10 mm
- Pendant and chain are water-resistant
- October birthstone
The Lumière Factor is my transparent assessment of each stone's play of light. Black tourmaline is naturally opaque. That's why I leave out transparency and rate it in 3 categories of 0 to 25 points each.
This is how it is evaluated
- Color Depth · Saturation and vibrancy, dull versus bright, cool versus warm. (max. 25)
- Surface Integrity · Natural shape without chips, intact edges. (max. 25)
- Liveliness · Sparkle and movement in daylight and candlelight. (max. 25)
0–45
Basic
46–56
Good
57–67
Very good
68–75
Exceptional
This necklace
Good
Color Depth
24 / 25
Deep, evenly saturated black without clouds
Surface Integrity
23 / 25
Cleanly cut cylinder, intact edges and points
Liveliness
18 / 25
Calm glassy luster on the polished faces
In total
65 / 75
Germany
3–6 working days
€4.95 · free shipping from €150
Worldwide
5–10 working days
from €6.95 · Europe free from €170
- Handmade for you in 2 to 3 working days, then shipped with DHL and tracking
- Carefully packed in the Handmade Art gift box
- USA €35, rest of the world €10 shipping
Along with opal, tourmaline is the official birthstone for October and is traditionally linked to the zodiac signs Libra and Scorpio. By tradition black tourmaline is seen as a symbol of protection, grounding and setting boundaries, which makes it a personal gift for anyone born in October.
The stone is genuine, naturally grown black tourmaline, known to mineralogists as schorl, and neither an imitation nor a man-made stone. It has been treated, and I'm telling you this openly. Treatments such as gentle heating or filling fine fissures are common for tourmaline and don't change the hardness of the stone.
The tourmaline is cut and polished into a slim cylinder with six sides and two points. This shape echoes the mineral's natural prism-shaped growth, lets the pendant rest calmly on your neckline and shows the deep black evenly from every side.
14K gold-filled is the higher-quality choice, and that's exactly why I only offer 14K gold-filled. Gold-plated jewelry has just a wafer-thin layer of gold on top, which wears off over time and fades faster. 14K gold-filled, on the other hand, has a much thicker, firmly bonded layer of gold. It costs a little more than plating, but it lasts so long that you won't have to keep buying new necklaces, and you can enjoy its warm gold tone for years.
The pendant and chain are water-resistant. Still, avoid prolonged contact with perfume, lotions and harsh cleaners, don't use ultrasonic cleaners, and keep it away from high heat and sudden temperature changes. Store the necklace dry and separate from other jewelry, because even tourmaline can chip at the edges from hard knocks.
The Difference
Gold-Filled vs. Gold-Plated
Best choice
Our Choice
14k Gold-Filled
Standard Jewelry
Gold-Plated
Gold layer
Up to 15% of total weight
Ultra-thin layer
Durability
Lasts many years with good care
Often wears off within months
Tarnishing
Rarely tarnishes
Discolours quickly
Wear
Keeps its new look
Flakes and wears off
Skin tolerance
Gentle on the skin
Can irritate the skin
Value
High quality and long-lasting
Cheaper, but less durable
Durability
Top
14k Gold-Filled
Lasts many years with good care
Gold-Plated
Often wears off within months
Tarnishing
Top
14k Gold-Filled
Rarely tarnishes
Gold-Plated
Discolours quickly
Wear
Top
14k Gold-Filled
Keeps its new look
Gold-Plated
Flakes and wears off
Skin tolerance
Top
14k Gold-Filled
Gentle on the skin
Gold-Plated
Can irritate the skin
Value
Top
14k Gold-Filled
High quality and long-lasting
Gold-Plated
Cheaper, but less durable
Origin of the stones
Gemstones with a clear conscience.
Every stone has a journey and I want that journey to be fair and transparent.
Consciously sourced
Hand-set
Nature-friendly
Really, treated
Origin · Tourmaline
Minas Gerais, Brazil
The black tourmaline in this necklace typically comes from the pegmatites of Minas Gerais in Brazil, before each stone is set by hand in my studio.
Carola
Founder · Designer
The woman behind Handmade Art
Hi, I'm Carola.
I am a biomedical scientist by profession and an artist by profession. In my studio in Oberhausen, I make each necklace by hand, stone by stone, bead by bead.
8+
Years of craftsmanship
1.672
wearers
100%
Unique pieces
Manufacturer Handmade Art by Carola · Carola Schade · Biefangstraße 1, 46149 Oberhausen, Germany · hello@by-carola.com
Good to you too
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Hand-picked from my collection, each piece perfect for layering or as a gift.
Cylinder Tourmaline Necklace
Gold / With chain / 45 cm
