Tanzanite stone is a gem that is very popular among people for its beautiful blue colour & violet hue which belongs to the mineral group of zoisite. This is a very rare gemstone that wasn't found until the year 1967. In that year it was found in the foothills of Mount Kilimanjaro in Tanzania.
According to the experts, these foothills were once set flickering by a bolt of lightning which resulted in this blue crystal found by Masai herders between the ashes of the scorched land. Afterwards, this rare discovery of gem was named tanzanite, after the origin of its country that is Tanzania.
Properties of Tanzanite Gemstone
- Hardness & Strength
This Gem has a hardness on the Mohs Scale of 6 to 7 on & can be used in every type of jewelry. However, when you use the jewellery of this gemstone, it is very necessary to take proper precautions to avoid rough usage. Additionally, tanzanite gemstones have a sensitivity to rapid change in temperature which makes them more prone to breakage. But if you consider the setting of the jewelry properly & take necessary steps for adequate care then you can easily reduce the chances of the gem to get damaged.
- Treatment
The Tanzanite gem is normally treated by heat at 600 degrees Celsius for approx. 30 minutes which is very mild if we compare it to any other gems like sapphire gemstones. The enhancement or subsequent change in color is not likely to fade under standard exposure of light & in the range of normal temperature of the human environment. Natural Blue tanzanite that is untreated is extremely sought-after & held in high regard amongst jewelry lovers.
A Modern Gemstone & birthstone
If we talk about other world’s most popular gemstones then they have been known and used for hundreds of years but tanzanite stone was not discovered commercially until the 1960s. And from that time, this beautiful gem has become the second most popular blue gemstone after sapphire gemstone.
This gem is one of a small number of gemstones that have been discovered & brought to the popularity of strong consumers within the past century. Because of its rapid rise in popularity, this gemstone was famed widely as a modern birthstone for the December month in 2002.
Durability of Tanzanite Gemstone
Tanzanite gemstone is really a beautiful gem and in addition to its beauty, it has a few properties that you need to take care of if you’re planning to buy its jewellery. This gemstone is the one that is best suitable for tanzanite pendants, tanzanite earrings, and other jewelry items that will not encounter scratches & impact. If you’re buying tanzanite stone for a ring then it is less suitable. It is recommended by many jewelers that "wearing tanzanite rings are best for parties or occasions rather than everyday wear."
The 3C’s of Tanzanite Gemstones
When it’s about judging the true value of a tanzanite gemstones, there are some factors that you should keep into consideration. They include the stone’s
- Color
- Clarity
- Cuts
- Colour
- When you are determining the value of a gem, color plays a very big role like Tanzanite gemstones that have deep & highly saturated color have a very good value in the jewellery market. Its deep blue color followed by bluish purple & violet-blue color shifts the gem to the top of the list and if the saturation level of the gemstone color falls there is a decrease in the value of the gemstone as well.
- In large sized gems, we can easily see the finest colors however a large sized gemstone that has less saturation is of a lower rate.
- Clarity
- Tanzanite gems are transparent and offer an attractive & shiny luster.
- These gemstones are formed from zoisite crystals which are considerably free from any type of inclusions. If there is a visible inclusion on the polished gemstone then it will result in a drop in the value.
- If the gemstone is large and flawless with no inclusions then it offers the highest clarity which is considered as the most valuable tanzanite.
- Cuts
- If we talk about the cuts in Tanzanites then they are available in both traditional & contemporary cuts where cushion & oval cuts are the most common.
- The extremely rare tanzanite that is cat’s-eye tanzanite gemstone is fashioned into a cabochon to display its amazing effect.
Conclusion
Jewelry adorned with tanzanite is very attractive & should be worn with care as the tanzanite gemstone is softer in comparison to other gems. This gem displays a perfect cleavage & hence it should be protected from rough usage. With Chordia Jewels you can get the most amazing tanzanite jewellery pieces like natural tanzanite earrings or trillion tanzanite earrings that never loses its magnificent sparkle if you maintain them.
