Tanzanite Jewellery

The Tanzanite Gemstone is one of the most gorgeous gemstones mined in East Africa. Tanzanite is a stunning variety of Zoisite with a velvety blue colour. You can also find a tinge of purple in Tanzanite gemstones. The Tanzanite gem stone was first found in the year 1967 and was given the name Tanzanite by Tiffany And Company, the gemstone was found in Tanzania and was therefore named Tanzanite. This gemstone was introduced in the world market in the year 1969.

The Tanzanite gemstone shows a trichroic effect that is a 3 colour visibility when viewed from different angles. The three colour effects are blue, purple and bronze.

Almost always heat treated: The natural colour of tanzanite is brownish and this is how most rough tanzanite appears. Heating of tanzanite gemstones, results in a colour change that ranges from Blue to Purple. Colour enhancement using heat treatment is a widely accepted treatment for the Tanzanite gem stone.

When valuing a Tanzanite gemstone keep the following in mind.  Size: As is the case with most gemstones, big Tanzanite gemstones are more expensive and rare as compared to smaller pieces.  Colour: Tanzanite gems that are bluer rather than purple are more expensive. To bring out the blue colour in the Tanzanite gemstone, the gemstone cutting loss is higher but worth the sacrifice.  Inclusions, Cracks and Colour zoning: Tanzanite gemstones with inclusions and cracks would be valued at a lower price. Further, if you notice a Tanzanite gemstone with uneven colour through the gemstone, remember that the value would fall too. These rules also apply to most other gemstones.

Looking after Tanzanite jewellery:

• Tanzanite is a fairly soft gemstone, so you need to be careful how you clean and store your pieces of tanzanite jewellery.
• As a rule, do not wear jewellery with Tanzanite gemstones when doing physical work like gardening, cooking, clothes washing etc.
• This gemstone is a bit more delicate than many other gemstones and therefore cannot be worn when doing strenuous activity. A sharp knock could chip or crack your tanzanite and it could also easily become scratched.
• Never clean Tanzanite jewellery in an ultrasonic cleaner or any harsh chemicals, as these may damage the surface of your gemstone.
• Use a slightly dampen soft cloth and gently rub away any dirt or impurities that have collected on the stone or around the precious metal of the setting.
• Because heat can affect the colour of tanzanite, it is best not to store your tanzanite jewellery too close to a strong source of heat.
• Keep your tanzanite jewellery separate and not tangled up with any other jewellery pieces as it may get scratched or damage.
• If you should be getting a Tanzanite ring resized or repaired ensure that the gemstone is first taken off from the mounting.
• The Tanzanite gemstone could shatter with the heat of a torch