Tanzanite, The Stunning New Gemstone

Have you heard about tanzanite, the exciting new gemstone? Amazingly, we are still making new discoveries in our world and new species of animals, plants and insects are still being found and new and exciting gemstones are still being dug out of the rocks that form our planet. One of these recent gemstone discoveries is a rare form of blue zoisite that has since become known as tanzanite. The legend has it that in the grassy hills at the foot of Mount Kilimanjaro in Tanzania some brown gemstones lying on the ground were caught in a bush fire caused by lightning. The intense heat of the flames changed the colour of the gemstones to a vivid shade of blue. These beautiful blue gemstones were found by the local Masai cattle herders and collected in pouches as it was believed that these special stones would bring them a better life. Blue is a very sacred colour in Masai tradition as it is associated with new life and new beginnings, and only Masai women who have given birth and brought a new life into the world are allowed the distinction of wearing blue beads or blue clothing materials. However, officially Tanzanite was not discovered and sold commercially until 1967, and this small area in Tanzania is still the only place in the world where it is mined. The rarity of tanzanite as a gemstone is underscored by the fact that geologists believe that the chances of finding deposits in other parts of the world to be extremely slim.

Although tanzanite started off being called blue zoisite in 1967, its name was changed to honour its country of origin for a Tiffany & Co campaign which thought that blue zoisite could potentially be mispronounced as ‘blue suicide’ and that this would impede the burgeoning sales of tanzanite jewelry. The mines where it is extracted have been nationalised by the Tanzanian government since 1972. Because tanzanite only comes from one source, it is a very rare gemstone that is very much in demand, and it is also one of the most popular blue gemstones sold today. Because of its rarity it can command high prices, and when set with diamonds, a piece of tanzanite jewelry can be a very expensive purchase. Tanzanite is found in a wide range of sizes and shapes, and a broad range of hues of blues, purples and even greens. There have been some very large tanzanite gemstones found and one of the most famous of these is the ‘Queen of Kilimanjaro’ which is 242 carats. The ‘Queen of Kilimanjaro’ has been set in a tiara along with with 803 brilliant cut tsavorite garnets and 913 brilliant cut diamonds. If you wish to see this magnificent tanzanite, you will find the tiara on display in the Gallery of Gold and Gems at the Royal Ontario Museum in Toronto, Canada.

In the rough, tanzanite is a reddish, brown colour and is a trichroic gemstone, which means that when light enters the stone it is separated into three different sections that each contain a part of the visible spectrum. All tanzanite has to be treated with artificial heat in gem ovens to bring out the beautiful blue, purple and violet shades of the gemstone. It can be cut to either emphasise the blue or the purple tones in the gemstone, and a rich blue tanzanite resembles a fine blue sapphire and the violet/purple hues can suggest a good quality amethyst. It tends to be the larger tanzanite gemstones that contain the deeper, richer colours and the smaller stones that are more of an exquisite, delicate lavender shade. A darker coloured tanzanite generally commands a higher price than the lighter coloured gemstones and is also considered to be more desirable. The Gemological Institute of America classes tanzanite as a Type 1 gemstone which means that is should be eye-flawless. For a gemstone to be eye-flawless it should have no inclusions or cracks that are visible when you examine it with the naked eye.

Tanzanite has the added distinction of being the first gemstone to be added to the list of birthstones compiled by the American Gem Trade Association since 1912. It is now one of the birthstones for the month of December, sharing this accolade with zircon and turquoise. It has also been incorporated into crystal healing lore since its discovery in 1967, and is considered to be an excellent gemstone for relieving stress, promoting relaxation and encouraging workaholics to slow down their pace a bit. Tanzanite is a good crystal to use to promote balance in someone’s life and can also be worn for extra support during psychic development and meditation. The blue of tanzanite is an aid to opening the throat chakra and encouraging clear speech and communication. For healing the physical body, one of these stones can be placed on damaged connective tissue to help ameliorate any damage and help to relieve the pain.

Tanzanite is a fairly soft gemstone, so you need to be careful how you clean and store your pieces of tanzanite jewelry. As it is not as hardy as some of the harder gemstones such as rubies or sapphires, you would be well advised to remove your tanzanite jewellery when you are playing sport or doing any physical work. A sharp knock could chip or crack your tanzanite and it could also easily become scratched. If you need to clean your tanzanite jewelry, do not use an ultrasonic jewelry cleaner or any harsh chemicals, as these may damage the surface of your gemstone. So when you do need to clean it, simply dampen a soft cloth and gently rub away any dirt or impurities that have collected on the stone or around the precious metal of the setting. Because heat can affect the colour of tanzanite, it is best not to store your jewelry too close to a strong source of heat, and also keep your tanzanite jewelry separate and not tangled up with any other jewelry pieces as the stones may get scratched or damaged.

You will find, when you are looking for tanzanite jewellery, that this gemstone is generally set in gold or platinum and very rarely in sterling silver. This is because tanzanite is very valuable and the precious metal that it is set in needs to reflect this. White gold is also more popular as a setting than yellow gold, and is a very good complement to the fire of the vivid blues and rich purples. Tanzanite also looks amazing when it is accented with sparkling, small diamonds, giving you a unique and truly luxurious piece of jewellery. One of the best places to go looking for tanzanite jewelry is online, and you will be amazed to find what a huge selection of rings, pendants, earrings and bracelets that you will have to choose from if you search on Amazon. If you are searching for an engagement ring, and are looking for a more unusual gemstone, why not opt for a stunning tanzanite engagement ring? As it is the birthstone for December, a unique piece of tanzanite jewelry would also make a great birthday gift for a loved one or special friend. And what could be more exciting than finding an exquisite gift of tanzanite jewelry under your Christmas tree this year or waiting for you on Valentine’s Day?

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Tanzanite image Rob Lavinsky under Creative Commons Attribution - Share Alike 3.0 Unported