Tantalizing Tanzanite!By Judith Anderson GG, CGA |
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Tanzanites and tanzanite jewelry have become increasingly popular gifts during the holiday season. With its incredibly beautiful colors - a rich, velvety blue or violet with flashes of red - this exotic gemstone from East Africa makes an ideal Christmas ornament. In fact, tanzanite has recently been suggested as an alternative birthstone for December.
To help you make a wise decision if you consider a tanzanite for the holidays, we offer the following brief tutorial. Here are some of the most frequently asked questions about tanzanite .... |
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Are tanzanites becoming rarer? For all its beauty tanzanite has only one natural source - an inaccessible mine lying in the foothills of Mount Kilimanjaro. Recent over mining and flooding at the mine site has limited the supply of higher quality, larger gems. As the popularity of tanzanite has increased, the cost and scarcity of finer tanzanites have increased. But, not all tanzanites are equal, or equally scarce. |
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Lower quality tanzanites, often pale in color and small in size, are readily available. Commonly offered on home shopping channels and by large discount jewelers, these lesser stones have remained in abundant supply at a low wholesale cost. But, be careful! Some unscrupulous merchants are misrepresenting lesser quality tanzanites as finer gems and selling them at inflated prices. |
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Are tanzanites too soft to be worn in jewelry? Tanzanite is a softer gemstone than diamonds or sapphires. Thus it is more susceptible to being scratched and abraded. However, by following a few common sense precautions the beauty of this vibrant gemstone is easily protected. |
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Tanzanite is best set in well protected, less active pieces of jewelry, like earrings and pendants. When tanzanite is mounted in a ring or bracelet, you should choose a low setting that will help protect the gem. Also, do not wear tanzanite jewelry during activities that may result in the gem being chipped or scratched. And, when not being worn tanzanite jewelry should be stored in individual cloth pouches, so that the gems are not inadvertently abraded by the other jewels in your collection. |
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Are the striking colors of tanzanite natural? Tanzanite is a natural gemstone whose color is enhanced during cutting by a process known as "heat treating". When found in nature, tanzanite crystals are a muddy reddish-brown color. The crystals are then heated to approximately 650 |
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degrees to bring out the rich blue, purple and violet colors we love. The color change is permanent. Similar heat-treating processes have been used for over 3,000 years to enhance the appearance of natural rubies and sapphires. If a jeweler or salesperson does not inform you about the heat treatment of tanzanites and other gemstones, you probably should be shopping somewhere else.
Do I have to worry about fake tanzanites? Any gemstone that is as popular and desirable as tanzanite will attract pretenders. Several synthetic gemstones and non-gem materials have been offered as substitutes for tanzanite. For example, synthetic fosterite, which is lab grown in Russia, simulates the color and look of tanzanite, but is significantly less expensive. Also, synthetic sapphires have been offered as imitators of the bluer varieties of tanzanite. Because these synthetic gemstones can be mistaken for natural tanzanite, we recommend that you have any tanzanite or other precious gemstones that you purchase, evaluated by a qualified independent gemologist or laboratory.
 Before you purchase your next tanzanite, diamond or other precious gemstone, you should learn more about Bijoux Extraordinaire and how we can help you. Our gemstone and jewelry experts will assist you in finding the tanzanite you desire, while saving you time and money. |
 
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