ABC of Tanzanite, Al-rashid Cyber Mall

Alrashid Cyber Mall

Member of

Saudi Arabia Trade and Business Directory

This website uses cookies to improve your experience. We'll assume you're ok with this, but you can opt-out if you wish.

The ABC's Of Tanzanite

Tanzanite, a relative newcomer to the market, may lack in rich gem legend and lore, but it has rapidly won the public's favor since its discovery some 30 years ago.

No recent gemstone discovery has had more of an impact on the world gemstone market than tanzanite. Portuguese prospector Manuel d'Souza discovered this gem in Tanzania in 1967 while searching for sapphire. Tanzanite was named after its country of origin by Henry Platt, vice president of Tiffany & Co. in New York, one of the world's most influential jewelers who began an aggressive marketing campaign to introduce tanzanite to the public in the 1980s.

Tanzanite's mass appeal lies in its great color, a mixture of two gem favorites: sapphire and amethyst. Popular for its rich violet blue to purple tones, tanzanite has tonal depth comparable to sapphire. Rarely found in a pure blue, tanzanite almost always displays purple overtones. It is highly tri-chroic; that is, it shows varying amounts of blue and violet in incandescent light and daylight. In small sizes, tanzanite tends toward the lighter tones (lavender is most common). Tanzanite crystals naturally occur in various colors: yellow, golden brown green and blue (but rarely).

Tanzanite is a velvety-blue to purple variety of the mineral zoisite, a silicate of calcium and aluminum. Prior to its discovery, the only variety of zoisite used for gems was a pink-colored gem known as thulite. A green variety of zoisite was recently discovered which is called chrome (or green) tanzanite, owing its color to chromium.

On the Mohs scale of hardness, tanzanite ranks 6-7. This gem is considered relatively soft and thought should be given when designing jewelry to protecting the stone from harsh wear. Although its dispersion is low at 0.019, tanzanite has a moderate luster. Large stones up to 50 carats are available however, the larger the gem the more saturated the color. Limited quantities of natural gem-quality tanzanite are found almost exclusively in Arusha, Tanzania.

Warm soapy water and a soft brush is your best bet to clean tanzanite. Do not use an ultrasonic or steam cleaner. Avoid contact with acids and sudden temperature changes (as may occur in some jewelry repair and design work). It is important to buy fine tanzanite from a reputable retailer who will provide, in writing, all pertinent information regarding the gem including enhancements and special care notes.

Although it is not a birthstone, tanzanite is a recommended gift for couples celebrating their 24th wedding anniversary, according to contemporary jewelers' anniversary gemstone lists. A noted 122.7-carat faceted tanzanite is on display at the Smithsonian Institution.