Drop green tourmaline necklace, PVD gold-plated stainless steel, 41.5-3-3 cm

An open shirt, a crew neck, a V-neckline: this necklace slips under every neckline. A green tourmaline necklace, subtle and luminous, to keep for yourself or to give as a gift.

Its 41.5 cm length adjusts thanks to the small extension chain: wear it close to the neck with an open top, or a little lower over a fine sweater. It fastens with a spring ring clasp.

Tourmaline offers one of the widest palettes in the world of gemstones, from green to pink, from blue to black, and a single crystal can shift from one color to another, like "watermelon" tourmaline, green on the outside and pink at its heart. These are boron-rich minerals, born in pegmatites and in rocks transformed by heat; it is mined notably in Brazil, Africa and Afghanistan. Its name comes from the Sinhalese turamali, "stones of mixed colors", which Dutch merchants brought back from Sri Lanka. Long confused with other gems, including emerald, it was only recognized as a separate species in the 19th century. When heated, it attracts light ash, hence its Dutch nickname of "ash puller".

In lithotherapy, tourmaline is seen as a stone of balance, whose associations are said to vary with its color; green and multicolored tourmaline, the most often cited, is a stone of the heart. It is credited with the power to harmonize energies, to open up to compassion, tenderness and patience, and to help soothe emotional wounds as well as get through periods of stress more calmly. Tradition links it to the Heart Chakra and to the sign of Libra, and makes it one of the birthstones for October. These beliefs, specific to lithotherapy, have not been scientifically proven and are in no way a substitute for medical advice. Tourmaline is worn above all for its vivid hues, always slightly different from one stone to the next.

Tourmaline is a hard stone that copes well with everyday wear, but it is sensitive to heat and sudden changes in temperature, which can crack it or alter its color. Take off your jewelry before the sauna, a very hot bath or oven cooking, and store it separately to avoid knocks. To clean it, wash the stone in lukewarm, soapy water with a soft brush, rinse, then dry with a soft cloth. Avoid ultrasonic and steam cleaners. In lithotherapy, it is purified with incense or sage smoke, and recharged for a few hours in daylight or moonlight, without letting it heat up in the sun.

Your jewelry can handle water: shower, rain or swimming. After the sea or the pool, simply rinse it in clean water and dry it, as repeated exposure to salt and chlorine can dull its shine over time. Clean it in lukewarm, soapy water with a soft cloth, and avoid abrasive products and rubbing against hard surfaces.

Each piece of jewelry comes with its certificate of authenticity. Stainless steel does not darken and can handle contact with water: a piece of jewelry that goes everywhere with you, compliant with the European REACH regulations on nickel, lead and cadmium. Its gold color is obtained by PVD (physical vapor deposition), a coating applied under vacuum to the stainless steel. As steel is not a precious metal, it does not bear a fineness hallmark.

This green drop necklace is designed for women, to wear yourself or to give as a gift. It is hypoallergenic as it complies with European REACH standards on nickel, and it suits most sensitive skin.