Tourmaline beads are recognized for having the widest color range of any gem. Known since antiquity in the Mediterranean region - Tourmaline was named in 1703 by Dutch traders who gave the gemstone a Sinhalese name, `Turamali` , thought to mean `stone with mixed colors`.  Tourmaline is mined in Brazil, Afghanistan, Australia, Burma, India, Madagascar, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, Nepal, Nigeria, Pakistan, Russia, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Sri Lanka, Tanzania, US, Zaire, Italy, and Switzerland.