The gemstone Tanzanite ranges in blue, violet and lavender shades and is a form of the mineral Zoisite which is a calcium aluminium silicate. The colour of Zoisite ranges from shades of greyish brown to white. In its raw stage Tanzanite is usually found brownish and very rarely, blue, violet or deep brown irregular sized crystals, often with broken ends.
The Masai herdsmen are considered to
be the first collectors of
Tanzanite, the most newly evolved
and popular gemstone in terms of
beauty and rarity. This newly
discovered gemstone came into the
limelight way back in the year 1967
and ever since it has mesmerized the
world with its beauty. It is
considered as a birthstone for the
month of December and is believed to
have immense healing effects. In the
Moh's scale Tanzanite has a hardness
of 6.5 to 7.
The
gemstone Tanzanite ranges in blue,
violet and lavender shades and is a
form of the mineral Zoisite which is
a calcium aluminium silicate. The
colour of Zoisite ranges from shades
of greyish brown to white. In its
raw stage Tanzanite is usually found
brownish and very rarely, blue,
violet or deep brown irregular sized
crystals, often with broken ends.
However, on application of heat, the
gemstone transforms into the hues of
breathtaking violet-blue. One can
apply heat to these crystals up to a
range of 300-400 degrees Celsius.
The heat changes the colour of these
raw crystals to a deep violet-blue
which is the most sought after
colour for Tanzanite. The gemstones
inherit the different shades of blue
due to the presence of the mineral
vanadium in it. If the Tanzanite is
of superior quality the colour often
ranges from blue to purple and
further down to a reddish pink
shade.
The gemstone emanates different
colours when viewed from different
directions or one can say that the
effect is different from the
different angles. The hues are blue,
violet or brown. The brown colour is
more predominant when the gemstone
is in its raw stage. Usually the
gemstone has a dominance of the blue
and lavender shades, though the
stones which are more towards the
blue shade are categorized under the
higher price bracket especially in
the Asian market. The breathtaking
aura of blue with a tinge of purple
radiates elegance and grandeur which
fascinates the eye. The rich velvety
shades of blue in a Tanzanite can be
equated with the grace of a blue
sapphire at any point of time. The
cut of Tanzanite, as of any gemstone
is also considered to be of great
importance as the supreme quality of
cut always emphasizes the true
colour, lustre and brilliance of the
gemstone in the best possible
manner. Tanzanite is cut in
different classical shapes starting
from round to various other fancy
cuts that emphasize the brilliance
and colour of this amazing gemstone.
However, it is experienced that
Tanzanite can be at its best form in
terms of colour and cut when it is
anywhere above 10 carats. The lesser
weighed Tanzanite usually has the
paler shades of blue.
A gemstone is always considered as a
most prized possession for an
individual and for a consumer owning
a Tanzanite has always been a very
special experience. It is not only
for its beauty but also for its rare
exclusivity that makes this gemstone
so very special. After all, one
should not forget that Tanzanite is
many times rarer than diamonds. It
is also the youngest member in the
world of gemstones discovered in the
20th century and is available only
in one particular area in the whole
world that is Tanzania - from where
it derives its name.