Tanzanite is the blue and violet variety of the mineral zoisite, caused by small amounts of vanadium. Tanzanite belongs to the epidote mineral group. Tanzanite is only found in Simanjiro District of Manyara Region in Tanzania, in a very small mining area approximately 7 km long and 2 km wide near the Mererani Hills.
Good quality tanzanite has a deep royal blue or violet colour.
Tanzanite's color can be a very bright, intense blue. In exceptional tanzanites, the color is an intense violetish blue with red flashes of pleochroic color coming from within the stone. Due to the gem's strong pleochroism, fashioned examples typically show a mix of both blue and violet colors in a wide range of tones.
In general, the more saturated the color of tanzanite is, the more valuable it becomes, as the demand for the deep royal blues is high. Too much saturation, however, and tanzanite can become too dark, especially in a larger gem.
Tanzanite Color, Characteristics & Value
Ranging in color from blue to violet, tanzanite is a pleochroic crystal, meaning it changes depending on the light and the direction from which it is viewed. In its original form, dark blue, brown-yellow, and red-purple can be seen in the same stone.
However, when magnified to about 10 times their initial size, most Tanzanites will show some inclusions. Inclusions are tiny scratches or imperfections often found on the surface of some gems. If you examine your gem under a 10x magnifying glass and can find no noticeable inclusions, then your stone is probably a fake.
It is noteworthy that Tanzanites in grades SI and higher have impurities that are visible to the naked eye and are sold at comparatively lower prices.
Trilliant. The 'Trilliant Cut' is a triangular-shaped cut with slightly rounded edges. Its facets may vary from 31 to 43, giving it its famous brilliance and emphasizing the rich blue color of the Tanzanite. Its symmetrical shape and angles make the 'Trilliant Cut' a perfect choice for sophisticated jewelry.
Carat Weight - Tanzanite Prices Per Carat (Updated July 2023) Due to the worldwide pandemic a couple years ago, this caused reduced travel, prices for Tanzanite are still down about 20-30%.
Tanzanite is a relatively “soft” gemstone in comparison to say Diamond, the hardest, Sapphire or Ruby and measures 6 to 7 on the Mohs Scale. What this means is that Tanzanite can scratch over time, especially if worn on a daily basis or if worn when performing physical activity.
Exposure to intense light (natural or artificial) for an extended period of time can cause the tanzanite to eventually lose its color. Additionally, it can get scratched by harder stones.
With steady demand for the gem in the US, India, and China, the price for new and used tanzanite in the coming decades is sure to rise. Current tanzanite value can reach up to $700 for a 2 carat stone of the finest quality.
They do not have the brilliance and sparkle, the clarity and variety of color shades that diamonds have. Of course, this does not make tanzanites unattractive or uninteresting. These are still very beautiful stones in just a crazy saturated blue color.
Cooler toned metals such as silver, platinum or white gold create a dramatic and icy look, magnificently contrasting against tanzanite's blue shades to enhance its color. Yellow or rose gold will elevate your tanzanite centerpiece with their warmth, revealing more purple and red colors within the stone.
Tanzanite is a recipient of various titles like, “the most beautiful blue gem” and “the most important gem discovery in 2000 years.” It's therefore no surprise that this beaming bluish-violet gem is highly sought-after. However, due to traditional classification, tanzanite still falls under the semi-precious category.
However, everyone can wear this stone. It cannot be associated with one particular planet. It has no negative effects. This gem has not been given too much of astrological importance, but its utility can be seen in beauty and medical benefits.
For some wearers, tanzanite may cause lethargy, which makes sense considering all the life-changing revelations you may experience. A side effect of the healing process is that tanzanite can bring up repressed feelings, emotions, and memories that the wearer might not be ready for.
(Like many gemstones, most tanzanite is cut in Jaipur.) The reason for the ban is to attempt to spur development of local processing facilities, thereby boosting the economy and recouping profits.
Having said that, tanzanites with a dominant blue color are considered to be the most valuable of the lot. This is primarily because the blue variety is quite rare and is, therefore, more likely to yield a higher return (from the investment point of view).
And last, but not least, Sapphire are generally more expensive than Tanzanite, especially in larger sizes. This is due to the rarity vs demand, though Tanzanite, being found in just one area of the world, could easily become much more valuable in the future.
From the durability point of view, sapphire is clearly the winner. Tanzanite, on the other hand, needs more care because it isn't as tough and also has the 'gemstone cleavage'.
On this scale, the tanzanite has a rating of 6 to 7, which means that while it isn't extremely weak, it can get damaged if hit hard enough. In addition to this, tanzanite also displays the perfect cleavage, which means that it can break if subjected to a hard blow.
Tanzanite can fade with prolonged exposure to sunlight.
Due to this unique singular event and the recent active foraging in the region, Tanzanite mines are expected to run out in the next 10 to 20 years. As our generation is the last with the opportunity to acquire first-hand Tanzanite, Tiffany & Co. has granted it the name 'The Gem of a Generation'.
Being a true trichroic, a tanzanite will naturally display three colours. In natural light, a tanzanite is expected to showcase blue with a tinge of violet. It should also reflect the colours pink and red when moves around under an incandescent light. STEP 3 - CAREFULLY VIEW THE INTENSITY OF THE COLOUR.