10 reasons to be tempted by tanzanite

1) Tanzanite is a blue-violet form of Zoisite with a colour range from deep blue to lavender-blue to rich violet. It is also pleochroic meaning it’s colour appears to change in different lights. The same stone can appear bluish in one light then purple in another. It’s a colour chameleon!

18ct diamond and tanzanite ring, £15,425

2)  The exact colour is determined by the amount and ratio of chromium and vanadium present in the mineral composition of each deposit.

3) It’s the birthstone for December, along with turquoise and zircon, and is associated with 24th anniversaries.

4) The only known deposit of any significance is found near Mount Kilimanjaro in northern Tanzania, making the beautiful gemstone 1000 times rather than a diamond. Tanzanite was named after the country of it’s origin by Tiffany and Co.

Tanzanite crystal earrings, £57

5) Tanzanite is a very ‘young’ stone in that it was only discovered in the late 60’s by a Masai tribesman named Ali Juuyawatu, who apparently stumbled across it.

6) Because it’s only found in one place in the world there is a limited supply, so cutters tend to choose oval or cushion cuts when working with tanzanite as they preserve as much of the stone as possible.

7) The world’s largest tanzanite crystal was mined in 2005 and weighed in at an amazing 16,839 carats. That’s about 3.2kgs!

18ct diamond and tanzanite ring, £1,795

8) It’s beautiful colour has made this stone popular with many leading ladies including Penelope Cruz, who has it as the central stone for her engagement ring, Cate Blanchett, who wore an enormous tanzanite necklace to the Cannes Film Festival in 2012 and Anne Hathaway who wore tanzanite earrings to the Oscars in 2011.

Silver and tanzanite swarovski crystal necklace, £58

9) Being such a new stone in the gemologists pantheon tanzanite has virtually none of the usual history and folklore around as other gems have, but it is said that the Masai believe it to inspire compassion and calm.

Tanzanite and diamond necklace, £2,475

10) The most highly sought tanzanites are vivid deep blue and as a consequence stones of this hue sell for the highest values, however,  people who prefer the fresher tones of blue stones like aquamarine or topaz may find excellent value in the more lavender-blue tanzanites.

View our collection of trulygemstones here.