Is Tanzanite Jewellery Rarer Than Diamonds?
Here at All Diamond, we have introduced a range of Tanzanite jewellery. We love this multicoloured (or, more accurately, trichroic) gemstone because of the way it reflects different colours ranging from light blue to violet and deep burgundy. Our designers leapt at the chance to work with this fascinating gemstone.
But then we realised we had a problem! Hardly anyone knows anything about this beautiful gemstone! So, in this article, we will share some of the basics that you need to know about tanzanite.
And, yes, tanzanite is rarer than diamonds, with estimates suggesting that tanzanite is 2000 times rarer than diamonds!
What Is Tanzanite?
Tanzanite is a crystal of the mineral Zoisite. Tiny quantities of vanadium cause the colouration. The striking visual effect of tanzanite comes from how its colour can change depending upon the angle of the tanzanite crystal to light. The colours seen are blue, violet and burgundy. Even the type of light falling on the crystals can affect the colour. For example, blue shades are more apparent under fluorescent lights, and violet shades are more emphasised under incandescent lights.
Most tanzanite is heat-treated to bring out the blue/violet shades of the stone and to remove unwanted brownish tones.
Tanzanite is not particularly hard with a Mohs scale of 6.5, which can affect its jewellery use.
The name 'tanzanite' was coined by the marketing department at Tiffany's before they introduced the new gemstone to the United States market in 1968.
In 2002, Tanzanite was named as the birthstone for December. There is no spiritual or mythological reason for this, just marketing. However, that does not stop the stone from being something wonderful to look at!
Where Does Tanzanite Come From?
Tanzanite comes from only one place in the world, Tanzania. Even more specifically, it is found in an area of just eight square kilometres at the foot of Mount Kilimanjaro in Northern Tanzania. The Tanzanian government has closed off the area to control the production and export of the gemstone.
Tanzanite was utterly unknown to the world until 1967 when a gold prospector named Manuel de Souza found some small pieces of a transparent blue crystal. At first, the crystals were thought to be peridot before being misattributed a couple more times. Eventually, a geologist called Ian McCloud, working for the Tanzanian government, identified the crystals as a new form of the mineral zoisite.
Is Tanzanite Rare?
Tanzanite is very rare! Only one source exists in the world, and the gemstone is becoming very popular. Within 20 to 30 years all the known deposits of tanzanite may have been exhausted. Tanzanite has been called the 'gemstone of a generation' because this is the last generation that will ever be able to buy tanzanite freshly mined from the ground. Soon, the only tanzanite that will be sold will have been previously used.
Notwithstanding the rarity of Tanzanite, the price is still relatively low, although that could well change in the coming years. At the moment, tanzanite has a wholesale price between £220 and £450 per carat.
What Is Tanzanite Used For?
Unlike many other gemstones, tanzanite is only used in jewellery. Because tanzanite is relatively soft (6.5 Mohs scale), it scratches easily. For this reason, most jewellery designers do not use tanzanite in rings.
Our designers have created several pieces of tanzanite jewellery, some with diamond halos. There are bracelets, earrings and pendant necklaces.
At All Diamond, We Want To Help You Buy The Right Jewellery
Today, more and more people appreciate the beauty of diamond jewellery. Not only does it symbolise beauty, but it also signifies love, happiness, and precious moments.
At All Diamond, we love diamond jewellery; our designers and artisans create beautiful things to wear and treasure. We love presenting their work to you at prices that make real quality and individuality more accessible than anyone would have thought possible just a few years ago.
Please take a short time to look through our collections of diamond jewellery. We are confident that you will see jewellery that will inspire you, whether to make a purchase right away or in the future.
If you have any questions or need some advice about a particular item, please get in touch with us using the online chat window at the bottom right-hand corner of each page on the site. Usually, somebody will be right there to answer you within seconds. Still, if we are unavailable (sleeping or eating!), you can leave a message, and we will get back to you as soon as possible.
So that you know, we want to make the process of purchasing from us as easy as possible. To make sure that those are not just empty words, we offer you the following options:
1) Because you want to be sure that what you purchase is exactly right, we offer a 30-day money-back or exchange option. If you see something lovely on our pages, but when you have the jewellery in your hands, it isn't quite what you expected, you can ask for a refund or exchange the item for something else. (We prefer the second option, of course!)
2.05ct Tanzanite & Diamond Cushion Cluster Earrings 18k White Gold
£869.00
£1,547.00
Presenting our exquisite 2.05ct Tanzanite & Diamond Cushion Cluster Earrings set in luxurious 18k white gold. These stunning earrings feature vivid tanzanite stones weighing a total of 1.85ct surrounded by 0.25ct of sparkling G/SI quality diamonds. These delightful earrings are… read more
2) Every item of jewellery we sell has a lifetime workmanship guarantee. So, if anything fails due to poor craftsmanship or faulty materials, we will fix it for free. Suppose an item is damaged through accident or wear. In that case, we will be happy to give you a competitive price for a professional repair!
3) We work with several companies to offer deferred payments, interest-free finance or competitive finance rates. When you place your order, you will see the options available to you on the product pages or in the shopping cart.
4) As mentioned, we have a live chat system that lets you get in touch with one of our knowledgeable diamond jewellery experts. We want you to make the right choice, so we will help you get to that point.
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