A collection of five Brazilian Paraíba tourmalines achieved a combined sale value of approximately $ 3.4 million at Sotheby’s High Jewellery auction in New York, underscoring continued demand for rare coloured gemstones in the global auction market.

The top-performing lot was a 7.70-carat oval-shaped Brazilian Paraíba tourmaline, which sold for $ 1.4 million after attracting competitive bidding. The gemstone had been estimated at between $ 350,000 and $ 550,000 before the sale but realized more than double its upper estimate.

Another highlight from the collection was a 6.11-carat Brazilian Paraíba tourmaline, which fetched $ 972,800, also surpassing its pre-sale valuation. Together with the remaining three stones from the private collection, the five gems generated total proceeds of roughly $ 3.4 million.

The auction formed part of Sotheby’s recent High Jewellery sale, which featured an array of rare coloured gemstones and exceptional jewels. According to the auction house, the event reflected sustained collector interest in high-quality coloured stones, with Paraíba tourmalines continuing to command premium prices due to their scarcity and distinctive neon-blue to greenish-blue hues.

The sale also demonstrated the growing prominence of coloured gemstones alongside diamonds in international auctions, with bidders showing strong appetite for exceptional provenance, quality and rarity.

Originally discovered in Brazil’s Paraíba state in the late 1980s, Paraíba tourmalines are among the most sought-after gemstones in the market because of their vivid copper-bearing colouration and limited supply. Fine specimens from Brazilian deposits are especially prized by collectors and investors, often achieving record prices at major auction houses.