The Mystery of Tanzanite

Many beautiful gemstones can be found across Tanzania in eastern Africa. From tantalizing turquoise to the earthy Fledspar. But perhaps one of the most spectacular is tanzanite, its name linking directly to its birth place. I love unveiling the mystery of tanzanite! I find is mesmerising that it can only be found in this part of the world. It’s no surprise this rare stone is so sought after because of its beautiful tones of blue and shades of purple. It’s a true keepsake. But perhaps what makes this stone that extra special is its heart-warming stories that accompany it. Not just where customers have travelled to and bought it but the history of its discovery.

A History

As most stones use heat to draw out the vivid colours, the stories suggest that tanzanite may have been formed from a bush fire. Apparently, once the fire had died out, the vibrant stones were left in its place. Another suggests that the tanzanite stone was brought to the world’s attention when a local huntsman found them and believed they were sapphires. Both stories have a charm of naivety and beauty. Tanzanite has also kept its tradition from its birthplace, where blue gifts were given to new born babies. Therefore it’s also an ideal present for a christening gift. Tanzanite is an exceptional stone and is said to be a thousand times rarer than a diamond. Not forgetting its geology will never be truly understood. For me it’s appealing not only for its beauty but mystery too.

How to partner tanzanite

To transform this beautiful stone into a stunning piece of jewellery and uncover its hidden mystery it’s important to understand what materials can be used alongside this charming gem. The ideal metals to use would be platinum and palladium. This is because of their well known durability which would not only help to keep the stone secure but compliment tanzanite. Its white-like sheen alongside the vivid blues and purple shades is truly eye-catching. To achieve a traditional and vintage-style look, yellow gold can also pair well with the colourful gem. For a more modern design, tanzanite can look beautiful set within white gold. However, a choice would need to be made as to whether the ring should be white rhodium plated, as over time this would wear and the ring would need to be re-plated. As tanzanite should not be exposed to ultrasonic or steam cleaning this could prove difficult as this method is often used when re-rhodium plating white gold rings.

Is it suitable for daily wear?

Scoring a 6.5 to 7 on the Moh’s scale, tanzanite should be worn with care as it is similar to peridot and tourmaline. This means that it can scratch relatively easily and, like emeralds, is very brittle. A single blow could cause the stone to split! Choosing the correct setting can help keep the stone slightly more secure. Closed settings like bezel, channel and pave settings are the best way to keep the stone safe and any claw setting should hold any corner of the stone. A tanzanite’s cut can range from oval to pear through to princess or emerald. What is important to consider is that the corners aren’t over exposed as this could encourage impact and possible cracks.