A Stunning Pair of Paraiba Tourmalines Head to Sotheby’s in Hong Kong

Today in Hong Kong, Sotheby’s will auction a spectacular pair of gemstones: two neatly-matched, exceptionally rare Paraiba tourmalines, ready for their new owner to dream up an incredible setting for them.

The oval stones, which weigh in at 71.24 and 72.84 carats, are rare tourmalines sourced from Mozambique. (Because they’re not actually from Brazil, they’re classed as “Paraiba-type tourmalines.”) Trace amounts of copper produce their electric blue-green color. The cut stones were produced in the workshop of Canadian jewelry designer Kat Florence.

Press materials from Kat Florence explain the discovery that led to the production of the gems: “The discovered stone these priceless collectables originate from was unveiled back in 2003 by world-famous gem hunter Don Kogen (Kat Florence Atelier’s in-house gem hunter), during a routine expedition through the Mavuco district of Mozambique’s Nampula province. That parent crystal weighed an astounding 830 carats.” Kogen is Kat Florence’s husband.

The tourmalines aren’t the first significant stone produced from that 830 rough tourmaline. In May 2025, the Kat Florence Lumina, a 181.61-carat tourmaline cut from the same original crystal, was auctioned by Bonhams in Hong Kong. The stone sold for 3,814,000 HKD, or around $486,000 USD.

Now, Sotheby’s will offer a buyer the opportunity to acquire two more tourmalines from that original crystal. The gems are being offered unmounted, but the press materials describe them as “earrings,” surely because they’re an almost-matched pair.

Can you imagine how big and heavy these would be in earring form? Perhaps the buyer of the previous Lumina tourmaline will acquire these two and set them all in a fabulous tiara. The estimate for the pair of gemstones has been set by Sotheby’s at 3,000,000-4,000,000 HKD, or around $380,000-$510,000 USD.

The auction of the stones takes place today in Hong Kong—so, given the time difference, it may have already taken place when this piece publishes. Kat Florence is clearly hoping for a big result, noting in press materials that the sale offers “collectors and connoisseurs a rare opportunity to own a true masterpiece.”