Most of the popular gemstones used by jewelry designers today were discovered thousands of years ago. Throughout history, in most every civilization, gemstones such as rubies, diamonds, sapphires and emeralds, have been highly prized and sought after. They have been used as the crown jewels of many countries for centuries. Even the Bible references precious stones as being used in the creation of special ancient garments, crowns and other adornments. Tanzanite, on the other hand, only discovered in 1967, is a comparatively new gemstone in the world of gemology and jewelry.
Tanzanite is one of the most desirable and intriguing precious gemstones of modern times. The brilliant mineral is found in only one place on earth, in East Africa's Rift Valley, deep in the foothills of Mount Kilimanjaro in Tanzania, in a little place called Merelani. Geologists are convinced that it is found nowhere else in the world and its supply in the largest mine will only last for about thirty more years, making it 1000 times more rare than diamonds. Back in the late 1960's, Tiffany & Company recognized the potential the stones had for creating dazzling Tanzanite jewelry and made a deal to become its main distributor - but only for the first ten-year period after its discovery. Scientifically called €blue zoisite€, the gemstone was renamed Tanzanite, after its country of origin, because it was believed by jewelry designers that €zoisite€, sounding much like €suicide€, wouldn't sell as well. Tanzanite's rarity and outstanding brilliance makes it highly desirable for those with discerning taste. Possessing something so beautiful that so few have makes Tanzanite a true luxury.
Tanzanite's most unusual feature is its trichroicism; it radiates different colors simultaneously, depending on the angle of view. When Tanzanite gems are cut and polished, they reflect a blend of indigo, royal blue and lilac. The rich spectrum of tones offer jewelry designers a bold palette from which to create stunning pieces. Generally, the gemstones with the deepest intensity of color command the highest prices.
In the last several decades, Tanzanite has become one of the most coveted gemstones in the world. So much so, that in 2002, the American Gem Trade Association inducted Tanzanite into the traditional list of birthstones, for the month of December, along with the other blue gems of Zircon, Turquoise and Blue Topaz. The world fell so in love with the beauty of Tanzanite jewelry that the gem was the first and only birthstone to be officially added to the list since the turn of the 20th century.
Tanzanite is one of the most desirable and intriguing precious gemstones of modern times. The brilliant mineral is found in only one place on earth, in East Africa's Rift Valley, deep in the foothills of Mount Kilimanjaro in Tanzania, in a little place called Merelani. Geologists are convinced that it is found nowhere else in the world and its supply in the largest mine will only last for about thirty more years, making it 1000 times more rare than diamonds. Back in the late 1960's, Tiffany & Company recognized the potential the stones had for creating dazzling Tanzanite jewelry and made a deal to become its main distributor - but only for the first ten-year period after its discovery. Scientifically called €blue zoisite€, the gemstone was renamed Tanzanite, after its country of origin, because it was believed by jewelry designers that €zoisite€, sounding much like €suicide€, wouldn't sell as well. Tanzanite's rarity and outstanding brilliance makes it highly desirable for those with discerning taste. Possessing something so beautiful that so few have makes Tanzanite a true luxury.
Tanzanite's most unusual feature is its trichroicism; it radiates different colors simultaneously, depending on the angle of view. When Tanzanite gems are cut and polished, they reflect a blend of indigo, royal blue and lilac. The rich spectrum of tones offer jewelry designers a bold palette from which to create stunning pieces. Generally, the gemstones with the deepest intensity of color command the highest prices.
In the last several decades, Tanzanite has become one of the most coveted gemstones in the world. So much so, that in 2002, the American Gem Trade Association inducted Tanzanite into the traditional list of birthstones, for the month of December, along with the other blue gems of Zircon, Turquoise and Blue Topaz. The world fell so in love with the beauty of Tanzanite jewelry that the gem was the first and only birthstone to be officially added to the list since the turn of the 20th century.