Tanzanite History
What is Tanzanite?
Tanzanite may be a relative newcomer to the world of colored stones, but it was one of the most exciting gem discoveries of the 20th century. Blue stones emerging from Tanzania were identified as the mineral zoisite in 1962.
According to the Masai legends, the land was set ablaze by a bolt of lightning. The heat from this 'magic fire in the sky' is transformed crystals on the ground into shimmering blue-violet stones. When the last embers dissolved into the earth and the thick smoke settled, awestruck Masai tribesmen filled their pouches with these mystical stones, believing the jewels would bring them a better life.
The mines are all located in an area of about eight square miles in the Merelani Hills, near the base of Mount Kilimanjaro and the city of Arusha.
Tanzanite Colors
The mineral zoisite naturally occurs in a wide range of colors that include colorless, gray, yellow, brown, pink, green, blue, and violet. The name "Tanzanite" is used for a color variety of zoisite that ranges from blue to bluish purple to bluish violet.
The blue color of tanzanite is caused by small amounts of vanadium within the zoisite mineral structure. When vanadium-bearing zoisite is heated to a temperature of 600 degrees Celsius for about 30 minutes, the oxidation state of the vanadium is changed and that change causes or improves the blue color.
The top color for tanzanite is a vivid blue. Cutters must examine each piece of rough and determine if they can cut it in an orientation that will yield a finished stone with maximum face-up blue color.
Rough Tanzanite
Tiffany & Tanzanite
When the first Tanzanite stones were offered to the New York jewelry company Tiffany a short time after their discovery, they sparked an enthusiastic reaction.
However, they did make a recommendation to give the 'child' another name, since the Gemologically correct name 'blue zoisite'. So Tiffany's proposed the name 'Tanzanite,' after the place where the stone had been found - a name which quickly came into general use in the trade. And it was Tiffany's who, two years after its discovery, presented the exclusive gemstone to the comprehensive public with a broad-based advertising campaign.
In 1969 Tiffany & Co introduce Tanzanite to the world, announcing, Tanzanite can be found only in two places: Tiffany's and Tanzania, Tiffany had ten years exclusivety to sell Tanzanite after their campaign.
Tanzanite Necklase
Tanzanite is stable under normal wearing conditions, which means it’s resistant to the effects of heat, light, and common chemicals.
Most diamond, sapphire or ruby jewelry can be cleaned with ultra-sonic devices or machines. These are very hard composition stones and can sustain the pressures of heavy cleaning. However, it is not advisable to clean Tanzanite Jewelry in the same fashion. For cleaning a tanzanite, use mild detergent water and rinse thoroughly. Use a soft cloth to wipe off all stains, including fingerprints for the best results.Tanzanite has a hardness of about 6.5 to 7.0 on the Mohs Hardness Scale. This hardness is low enough that the gem is vulnerable to being scratched during normal wear if it is used in a ring.
Your tanzanite jewelry is guaranteed to impress and dazzle anyone who comes across it. Make sure to select a design that magnifies the beauty of the gemstone. May it always put a smile on her face and last for generations to come.
Popular Tanzanite Shapes
Investing in Tanzanite
Some sellers also suggest that the value of tanzanite will skyrocket when the known deposits are mined out. That might occur initially. No one knows for sure. A counter is that the price might initially rise but then, when no new tanzanite is entering the market, the price will decline to low levels as the gem loses its visibility and popularity and fades in the minds of buyers.
What happens when tanzanite supplies deplete cannot be predicted. People who invest in tanzanite might make money, but profits are not guaranteed.
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About Me
For 15 years i have been travelling the world making the globe my home, creating a first class enviroment when meeting people, individualizing everyone’s fine jewelry experience.
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