Gold layer
Top
14k Gold-Filled
Up to 15% of total weight
Gold-Plated
Ultra-thin layer
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Ships in 2–3 working days
14-day right of withdrawal
Julia and about 11.500+ Nature lovers love & trust ByCarola.
Handcrafted · Signature Collection
Raw Black Tourmaline 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
Genuine & untreated
Lumière very good
With you in 3–6 working days (DE)
Real customer photos
Thousands of happy customers since 2019
The Stone: Black Tourmaline, Known in Mineralogy as Schorl
Black tourmaline has the mineralogical name schorl. Rich in sodium and iron, it is an end member of the tourmaline group, a family of complex boron ring silicates. Its black color doesn't come from dye but from iron that sits firmly in the crystal lattice. It crystallizes in the trigonal system and forms prismatic crystals with a triangular cross section and the lengthwise striations typical of this mineral group, which you can clearly see on this raw stone. With a Mohs hardness of 7 to 7.5, it is one of the more durable gemstones. The name schorl goes back to the village of Zschorlau in Saxony, where the mineral was described as early as the 16th century.
Material and Craftsmanship
You can choose between 925 sterling silver and a warm 14K gold-filled setting. 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 wire is wrapped by hand around each raw stone individually, so the setting follows the natural shape of your stone. The raw stone measures about 8 to 10 mm. 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
Tourmaline builds up an electrostatic charge when it is heated or put under pressure, a pyroelectric and piezoelectric effect that people noticed as early as three hundred years ago. In the 18th century, Dutch sailors used it to pull ash out of their pipes and so gave the stone the nickname "ash puller." By tradition, black tourmaline stands for protection, grounding, and level-headed clarity. As a birthstone for October, it also makes an especially personal gift.
Caring for Your Black Tourmaline Necklace
The pendant and chain are water-resistant and suitable for everyday wear. To make your necklace last as long as possible, though, you should 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.
Schorl shouldn't be cleaned in an ultrasonic cleaner or with steam, and it should be protected from high heat and sudden changes in temperature. Store your necklace dry and apart from softer pieces of jewelry, because the natural edges of the raw stone can scratch more delicate stones. This way, the fine striations of the stone and the surface of your necklace will stay beautiful for a long time.
From the tourmaline group
Mineralogists call black tourmaline schorl, and it reaches a Mohs hardness of 7 to 7.5.
Black from iron
The color comes from iron in the crystal lattice, which is why every schorl is naturally black.
October birthstone
Alongside opal, tourmaline is the official birthstone for October and is traditionally seen as a symbol of protection.
Traditionally, black tourmaline stands for protection, grounding and sober clarity. As the birthstone of October, it is a particularly personal gift for anyone born in October.
100% genuine raw 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
Rich, even deep black without a gray haze
Surface Integrity
23 / 25
Intact natural shape, clear lengthwise striations formed during growth
Liveliness
20 / 25
Glassy luster that travels along the grooves
In total
67 / 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 October zodiac signs Libra and Scorpio. Black tourmaline, known to mineralogists as schorl, is the darkest member of this mineral group. By tradition it is said to stand for protection, grounding and clarity, which makes it a personal gift for anyone born in October.
Black tourmaline is one of the gemstones that are practically never treated in their raw state. Its color is idiochromatic: it comes from iron that is firmly built into the crystal lattice, so it is neither dyed nor irradiated. What you see is the natural color of the stone.
Schorl is the mineralogical name for black tourmaline that is rich in sodium and iron. Colorful tourmalines such as rubellite or verdelite contain lithium and other elements instead, which give them their red, green or blue color. What they all share is the trigonal crystal shape with a triangular cross section and the typical lengthwise striations.
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 the natural edges of the raw stone can scratch softer pieces.
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
100% untreated
Origin · Black Tourmaline
Minas Gerais, Brazil
The black tourmaline in this necklace typically comes from the pegmatites of Minas Gerais in Brazil, before each raw 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
These pieces fit that
Hand-picked from my collection, each piece perfect for layering or as a gift.
Raw Black Tourmaline Necklace
Gold / With chain / 45 cm
