If you're a cool-toned queen, you've likely been bewitched by a tanzanite or two. With mystical mermaid energy and a three-toned magic that can't be matched, tanzanite is a gemstone treat that we just can't resist. Keep reading for everything you need to know about this regal stone including:
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What is tanzanite?
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Why we love tanzanite
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The meaning of tanzanite
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How to choose a tanzanite - cut, clarity, color, and carat
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How to care for tanzanite
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All your tanzanite questions answered
What is tanzanite?
December’s newest birthstone, Tanzanite is a mesmerizing blue-violet gemstone made of the mineral, zoisite. This prismatic, multi-colored stone is only found in one spot on Earth, near the base of majestic Mount Kilimanjaro in Tanzania.
How tanzanite was discovered
Adding to tanzanite’s undeniable magic is its origin story. In 1967, after a wildfire burned through the Merelani Hills in Tanzania, local herders passed through and found vibrant blue violet gemstones all over the ground. The alchemy at play: naturally, tanzanite is a muted brown color, but when exposed to extreme heat like from a wildfire, they transform into the incandescent oceanic purple stones we know and love.
Pear cut mermaid tanzanite ring clearly shows three distinct colors: purple, blue, and green.
Oval cut mermaid tanzanite ring with diamond halo
First mistaken for sapphires, they were later identified by experts as blue zoisite – a previously undiscovered gemstone. Not long after, Tiffany & Co renamed the stone 'tanzanite' in an ode to its single origin and to distinguish it from the other colors of zoisite.
Why we love tanzanite
regal, PRISMATIC COLOR
With its cosmic, blue-purple color and delicious light shifting sorcery, tanzanite is an incredible gem to behold.
Less expensive
If you're looking for a gasp-worthy stone on a budget, tanzanite is it. Less expensive than sapphire, and naturally eye-clean, tanzanite elicits all the attention with a much lighter price tag.
three colors, one stone
Tanzanite is a trichroic gemstone, meaning it shows three distinct colors when viewed from different angles. If you can't decide and want constant color surprises, tanzanite will fulfill all your rainbow-loving fancies.
an ultra-rare gem
Tanzanite is 1000x rarer than diamond, and found in only one remote area of Tanzania. Once it's gone, it's gone and that time is coming in the next couple decades.
Spiritual meaning of tanzanite
Connected with the third eye and throat chakras, tanzanite is an incredibly high-vibe stone that helps us speak our truth with clarity, align with our intuition, and trust our own inner wisdom.
HOW TO CHOOSE A TANZANITE - THE 4CS
TANZANITE COLOR
The most important of the tanzanite quality factors is color. Tanzanite and all colored gemstones are evaluated for color using 3 different measures - hue, tone, and saturation.
Tanzanite hue
"Hue" is the actual color of a gemstone. Tanzanites have two color classifications:
- Violetish-blue: tanzanite with a primarily blue color, and secondary violet color.
- Blueish-violet: tanzanite with a primary violet color and secondary blue color.
Any other color besides these two hues is simply considered zoisite.
Tanzanite saturation
The most important factor in tanzanite color, saturation measures the vividness of the color. The highest quality tanzanites are deeply saturated and vivid, however some people prefer the look of less saturated tanzanite, which are softer-looking and more reminiscent of aquamarines or blue topaz.
Tanzanite tone
Tone refers to how light or dark a gemstone is – imagine a pale blue-violet vs a dark indigo-purple. The rarest and most valuable tanzanites have a medium-dark tone.
Mermaid tanzanite
Perhaps the most magical variety of all, mermaid tanzanite is an unheated, pastel violet-blue-green stone that looks like the most mystical mermaid tail to ever grace the shoreline.
Pleochroism in tanzanite
Tanzanites are pleochroic gemstones, meaning they show three different colors depending on the angle they’re viewed from.
How lighting affects tanzanite
Tanzanites shift in changing light, flaunting deep blue in sunlight and a lavender or blue-violet in artificial or incandescent light. The most coveted tanzanites can show blue, violet, red, and even yellow or green tones throughout the stone.
tanzanite CLARITY
As with most gemstones, the goal for tanzanite clarity is eye-clean, which means no inclusions are visible to the naked eye. Tanzanite is classified as a Type 1 gemstone by the GIA, meaning it’s usually eye-clean naturally.
TANZANITE CUT
Cut is especially important with tanzanite thanks to its pleochroism - how it’s cut will determine its main face-up color. Generally, gem cutters will try to cut the gem to showcase the violet-blue as much as possible while minimizing waste.
tanzanite carat
Carat is completely up to you and your budget, and with tanzanite, there are a wide range of carat weights to choose from. The larger tanzanites usually have the deepest, most saturated colors, while the smaller stones are less vivid.
Heat treatment of tanzanite
Almost all tanzanite is heat-treated to bring out the vivid blue-purple color they’re beloved for while removing any brown or yellow zones. This process replicates the wildfire conditions that led to their initial discovery – these first discovered stones already had their natural heat treatment.
The heating process for tanzanite stones is very mild compared to other gemstones – it’s usually heated to about 600 degrees Celsius for around 30 minutes, whereas rubies and sapphires are often heated to 1000-1800 degrees Celsius for days or weeks at a time.
Oval cut three stone tanzanite ring
Unless specified as unheated, you can assume all tanzanite gemstones have been heated to improve their vibrancy. Unheated stones will generally look more brown-grey, with the exception of mermaid tanzanite which is believed to be naturally heated by the sun.
Durability of Tanzanite
Gemstones are rated in two areas for durability:
- Hardness –resistance to scratches. With a hardness of 6.5 – 7, tanzanite can be scratched during normal wear and should be worn with care and placed in a protective setting. It’s a wear-sometimes stone that needs some TLC.
- Toughness – resistance to breakage. Tanzanite is more prone to chips and cracks thanks to its single direction of perfect cleavage. These gems should be protected from potential impacts.
Care of tanzanite
To keep your tanzanite safe and looking its most vibrant, there are a few care tips to keep in mind:
- Store your tanzanite jewelry away from other gemstones to avoid scratching.
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Clean your tanzanite jewelry with warm water, a mild dishsoap, and a soft bristle toothbrush.
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Keep your tanzanite ring or jewelry away from harsh chemicals and avoid ultrasonic cleaners.
- Take your ring off before swimming in pools and hot tubs.
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Avoid extreme temperatures - tanzanite can react badly to extreme heat or cold (and especially rapid changes in temperature).
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Remove your tanzanite jewelry for any potentially damaging activities - any significant impact can cause damage to your gemstone.
If you're looking for a more durable gemstone, consider sapphires which are rated a 9 on the Mohs hardness scale and also come in all tones of blue, purple, and even bi-color stones.
Synthetic & Imitation tanzanite
Synthetic (lab-created tanzanite)
Unlike diamonds and many other colored gemstones, labs haven’t been able to replicate natural tanzanite, so any genuine tanzanite you see is of natural origin.
Cushion cut tanzanite ring
Imitation tanzanite
There are many tanzanite impostors out there and while it’s illegal to market any other material as tanzanite, they exist nonetheless. A gemologist will be able to tell the difference, however the untrained eye can easily be fooled. Generally, if the price seems substantially lower than that of trusted jewelers, it’s a knock-off stone.
We recommend only buying tanzanite jewelry from a reputable jeweler or designer to ensure it's authentic.
Your tanzanite questions answered
How much tanzanite is left in the world?
With only one known 8-square mile source of tanzanite on the planet, the supply will not last forever. Experts believe the tanzanite mines will be completely depleted by the 2040s but this all depends on the demand for tanzanite and assumes that no new deposits of tanzanite are found in Tanzania or other parts of the world.
is tanzanite worth any money?
Tanzanite is a rare and valuable stone, though much less expensive than more popular colored gemstones like sapphires and rubies.
is tanzanite as valuable as diamond?
Though it's more rare than diamond, tanzanite is considered much less valuable thanks to its relatively recent discovery and much lower demand.
why was tanzanite banned?
The export of rough stones over one carat was banned to encourage local cutting and polishing and help boost the economy of Tanzania, the gemstone's orgin country.
Why is tanzanite so special?
Tanzanite is an incredible color-shifting blue-purple stone that's found in only one place on Earth. Tanzanite's rarity coupled with its triochroic nature is unmatched - it's so special it can't even be replicated in a lab.
why is some tanzanite so cheap?
Tanzanite is one of the newest gemstones to be discovered for fine jewelry, and though the demand is high, it's much lower than other more well-known gemstones. Beware of very low priced tanzanite as it's likely faux.
can a jeweler tell if a tanzanite is real?
Absolutely, an experienced Jeweler or Gemologist can easily spot a genuine tanzanite.
Pear cut moonstone and tanzanite ring
what does a fake tanzanite look like?
An imitation tanzanite might look dull and won't have the pleochroism of a genuine tanzanite.
Where to buy tanzanite jewelry
If you're living in the Gem Breakfast world, you've seen more than a few tantalizing tanzanites. Between one-of-a-kind tanzanite rings created by our roster of independent female designers and our custom and OOAK tanzanite rings created by our in-house line, Made by Gem Breakfast, there's a tanzanite treat for every tastebud.
Thinking of treating yourself (or your partner) to a tanzanite ring? Browse our selection of one-of-a-kind gemstone rings or book a free consultation to chat about creating something custom. There's no up-charge to creating custom, so if you see something you love on our site, we can usually recreate that ring for about the same price.