As we approach the close of 2020, we would be remiss to let it pass without paying honor to Maine's 200th anniversary. Our state is worthy of celebration for so many reasons, and we could pay homage to it in a myriad of ways. However, as a fifth-generation Maine jeweler, we feel our most appropriate contribution is a celebration of Maine's gems.
If you’ve spent significant time in Maine, you may have experienced the excitement of discovering one of its many naturally occurring gemstones while on a hike, at the beach, or your own backyard. Maine is full of natural mineral beauty from soft beach stones, to garnet, quartz, and world class tourmaline.
It was one of these accidental discoveries by two young hikers 200 years ago that resulted in finding Maine’s most abundant and well-known source for tourmaline. The hill on which they first found the bright green crystals is now known as Mt. Mica, and continues to be a primary source for tourmaline crystals with the ongoing discoveries of hundreds of pockets of gemstones. The gorgeous stone is also found in other pegmatites across the state, widespread primarily in Oxford, Androscoggan, Sagadahoc, and Cumberland Counties.
Tourmaline wasn't officially mined in Maine until later into the 1870's and it wasn't until the turn of the 20th century that it became more well known. The gemstones mined in Maine range in color, generally presenting themselves in blues, greens, teals, and pinks. The Hamlin necklace carries the namesake of one of the hikers who discovered the first tourmalines, and is a stunning representation of the various tourmaline hues found in Maine. The necklace resides today at the Mineralogical and Geological Museum at Harvard University.
Keith Field Goldsmith has our own connection to Maine tourmaline's history. When the building our store is located in (The Field Block building) first opened in 1908, it was opened with one tenant: a jeweler who featured “the newly discovered Maine tourmaline". T. Albert Field worked for this jeweler and later opened his own store. Our business now represents the fifth generation of jewelers in Brunswick, Maine, and we are proud to carry forward the tradition of sharing the beauty of our state’s gemstone with the world.
