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
Black Tourmaline Teardrop Necklace
October birthstone · handmade
incl. VAT, plus shipping
-
- 925 sterling silver or 14K gold-filled
- Fine chain, your choice of 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 Borosilicate Family
Black tourmaline is schorl, a variety from the tourmaline group and a complex boron silicate from the class of ring silicates. Its deep black color comes from a high iron content that is firmly locked into the crystal lattice. That is why the stone stays rich and calm even when you hold it up to the light, with no colored shimmer. With a Mohs hardness of 7 to 7.5, it is one of the hard gemstones, which makes it a sturdy companion for every day. The name tourmaline comes from Sinhalese and originally referred to stones of mixed colors. Its glassy luster is typical and shows especially clearly on the polished teardrop shape.
Material and Craftsmanship
You can choose between 925 sterling silver and 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 into a teardrop, polished, and drilled crosswise, so it sits freely on the fine chain with its square links and stays put in the center. Each teardrop is picked out individually and threaded by hand in my studio. You choose the length when you order: 45 cm (17.7 in) or 40 cm (15.7 in).
Meaning of the Stone
Along with opal, tourmaline is considered a birthstone for October. For centuries, black schorl was worn as a protective talisman, and by tradition it still stands for grounding and inner calm today. Its deep, quiet black goes with almost everything you wear, which makes it a stone for every day. Anyone born in October wears their own birthstone with this necklace, which makes it a very personal gift.
Caring for Your Tourmaline Necklace
The pendant and chain are water-resistant and made for everyday wear. To make your necklace last as long as possible, avoid prolonged contact with salt water and chlorinated water, as well as perfume, lotions, and harsh cleaning products. After swimming in the ocean or a pool, 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 an ultrasonic cleaner or a steam cleaner, and you should avoid high heat and sudden changes in temperature. Store your necklace dry and apart from harder pieces of jewelry, because even a hard stone can be damaged by strong knocks. That way, the deep black of the stone and the shine of your tourmaline necklace last for a long time.
From the tourmaline group
Black tourmaline is the variety schorl, a boron silicate with a Mohs hardness of 7 to 7.5.
Black from iron
Schorl gets its deep black color from a high iron content in the crystal lattice.
October birthstone
Alongside opal, tourmaline is considered a birthstone for October, and its name comes from Sinhalese.
Black tourmaline is traditionally considered a stone of protection and grounding. It has been worn as a protective stone for centuries and is a personal gift as the birthstone of October.
100% genuine black tourmaline
- 925 sterling silver or 14K gold-filled
- Fine chain, your choice of 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
Surface Integrity
24 / 25
Smoothly polished teardrop shape, intact edges
Liveliness
22 / 25
High glassy luster, clear reflections in the light
In total
70 / 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 considered the birthstone for October, and it is the newer of the two October birthstones. Its name comes from Sinhalese and originally referred to stones of mixed colors, because tourmaline occurs in almost every color. By tradition black schorl is said to stand for protection and grounding, which makes it a personal gift for anyone born in October.
The stone is genuine tourmaline, more precisely the black variety schorl, so it is neither glass nor a man-made stone. It is treated, as is common for natural stones in the jewelry trade. That doesn't change the fact that it's genuine, and I disclose it openly so you know what you're wearing. For care, it simply means you should avoid ultrasonic cleaners, high heat and rapid temperature changes.
You choose the length as an option when you order. 45 cm (17.7 in) is the classic length and falls softly onto the neckline, while 40 cm (15.7 in) sits higher on the neck and highlights the collarbone. If you like to layer several necklaces, 40 cm makes a good shorter layer.
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 a stone with a Mohs hardness of 7 to 7.5 is sensitive to 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
Handcrafted
Nature-friendly
100% real tourmaline
Origin · Tourmaline
Minas Gerais, Brazil
The black tourmaline in this necklace typically comes from the pegmatites of Minas Gerais in Brazil, before each drop is hand-strung 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
These pieces fit that
Hand-picked from my collection, each piece perfect for layering or as a gift.
Black Tourmaline Teardrop Necklace
Gold / With chain / 45 cm
