Tanzanite is a variety of the crystal Zoisite, and is one of the rarest precious stones available in the market today. Tanzanite was discovered in the year 1967 and was first found in the Meralani Hills of northern Tanzania. Tanzanite is mined exclusively under permit from the Tanzanian government and unlike other precious stones like diamonds, Tanzanite is found only in Tanzania. Although Tanzanite is used for a variety of jewelry, one of the most popular applications of Tanzanite is Tanzanite rings. Tanzanite rings are available in a variety of finishes, and (like any precious stone) the cost of the rings varies depending on the size and quality of the stone.
Below is a list of properties that makes Tanzanite unique:
Trichroism
Tanzanite is unique in that its color varies depending on the angle of light (called Trichroism). A typical Tanzanite crystal can vary from sapphire blue, violet, to sage-green depending on crystal orientation, and one of the first things buyers look for in a Tanzanite ring is the Trichroism exhibited by Tanzanite. Unfortunately, not all Tanzanite crystals are deep blue in color and most jewelers treat the crystal with heat to achieve the desired coloration. The only problem with heat treated Tanzanite crystals is that they loose their natural Trichroism to a certain extent.
Rarity
Tanzanite is only found in certain areas of Tanzania, no other precious stone in the world can make such a claim. The Tanzanian government makes nearly $20 million annually from Tanzanite trade alone, and the resultant stones sell for close to $500 million in the jewelry market. Unfortunately, the rarity of Tanzanite has also fuelled speculation that its reserves might run out in the near future and there might not be another source of Tanzanite anywhere in the world. The rarity of Tanzanite has made it a sought after stone and a top quality Tanzanite gem can sell upwards of $500 per carat.
Exclusivity
Contrary to popular belief, there are restrictions on the amount of Tanzanite that can be mined in a year and only a handful of companies and organizations have been given permission to mine in Tanzania. In a nutshell, unlike diamonds and other precious gemstones there is a limited amount of Tanzanite mined every year making Tanzanite one of the most exclusive gemstones available today. As mentioned earlier, there is speculation that Tanzanite deposits are rapidly depleting and fresh Tanzanite might not be available forever.
Another factor that makes Tanzanite so special is that Tanzanite has a Mohs scale hardness of 6.5 (Diamond is a 10), making Tanzanite fragile when compared to other gemstones. It is not uncommon for Tanzanite to break on impact, and the relative softness of Tanzanite means that special attention has to be paid during the cutting and molding of raw Tanzanite crystals.
Like all precious stones the size and weight of Tanzanite is measured in carats and like diamonds, Tanzanite too has a clarity scale that determines the quality of the crystal after it is cut.
History of Tanzanite
The first Tanzanite crystal was discovered by a Goan tailor name Manuel de Souza who assumed that the crystals were peridot. It was only when de Souza showed the crystals to a Nairobi based geologist and gemstone wholesaler John Saul did de Souza realize what he had stumbled upon. Saul sent the crystals to his father in the US and the Gemological Institute of America correctly identified the mineral as a variety of Zoisite. The term Tanzanite was coined by Henry Platt of Tiffany and Company to honor the country of origin of the gemstone. Although the name Tanzanite was originally coined to make the gemstones more exotic and marketable, the name has stuck ever since and the rest as they say is history.
Written by Richard M. Find the latest gold tanzanite rings as well as the rare Tanzanite trillion.
