Watermelon Tourmaline - Say what?

I have recently discovered a new gemstone that seems to be a new favorite for working with the heart chakra. Tourmaline is a trigonal specimen that tends to form in long, slick columns (thank you, Wikipedia!) that can be almost any color, if not a variety. Most special is Watermelon Tourmaline Because of its rarity as opposed to other forms of this gemstone. Most of the clear slices of Watermelon Tourmaline can be in the $95-$200 range which makes this a semi-precious stone with a hefty price tag. One look at this specimen will have you either loving it or hating it.

I fall into the latter category. Typically Rose Quartz is associated with the Heart Chakra so you might be asking yourself why you would want to spend so much money for a gemstone when an affordable alternative exists. The answer for me tends to fall into the "it's pretty and I want to touch it" category. If you have the will of an adult good for you, I still seem to be floating between the kid in a candy store and the randy teenager that must touch categories. Oh yeah, I went there! ;)

Watermelon Tourmaline is said to activate the Heart Chakra and bring loving energies as well as a sense of peace and calm. While it is true that this may be one of those specimens made for individuals with a higher disposable income, a few cheap sources do exist for small, dime sized pieces. I encourage you to do your research and find some if you are looking for an alternative to Rose Quartz. You could also try jade or green aventurine.