There is such a range of jewellery available nowadays, but tanzanite rings never fail to impress with their brilliant blue sheen that will make your finger stand out among the bejewelled crowd. Tanzanite is most commonly found in rings because the jewel is usually too soft to use in necklaces and earrings.
Tanzanite was actually given its name by Tiffany & Co. Jewellers in London. The gem is officially called blue zoisite, but Tiffany’s wanted to capitalize on the gem’s rarity because at that time it had only been found in Tanzania. About 2 million carats of tanzanite were mined between 1967 and 1972 in Tanzania, but the mines were later nationalized by the government of Tanzania.
What is tanzanite?
Tanzanite is native to the Mererani Hills of Northern Tanzania (near Mount Kilimanjaro and the city of Arusha), and was first discovered there in 1967. Tanzanite jewels are blue in colour and are a variety of the zoisite mineral. In the rough, it is actually a more reddish-brown colour, turning into a beautiful blue under high heat treatment.
What is special about tanzanite?
Tanzanite is a rare gem, named after the country in which it was discovered, Tanzania. Tanzanite is known for its strong trichroism; depending on the location of the crystals, the jewel appears violet, burgundy or sapphire. Tanzanite rings are highly sought after because of the strong contrast between the deep violets and blues of the gem. Tanzanite also looks different under different lighting conditions, meaning that you can even feel like you own more than one ring. It looks bluer under fluorescent lighting, and more violet in colour under incandescent lighting.
People have used the phrase “geological phenomenon” to describe Tanzanite because of its beautiful shades of blue and purple and because of the rarity of the gem. In 2002, Tanzanite was voted as the Unites States’ fourth most popular coloured gemstone; and in 2003, Tanzanite was names a December birthstone by the American Gem Trade Association. People have estimated that new sources of Tanzanite will only be around for another 10-15 years, making the gem all the more special and valuable.
Where can I buy tanzanite rings for sale?
There are a number of jewellers who specialize in Tanzanite jewellery and make beautiful and unique Tanzanite rings.
- ANPA Jewellers (http://www.anpa.co.za/tanzanite.html) provide one on one individualized service to help you find the ring of your dreams with special designs and personal orders. To contact ANPA and find out more about the Tanzanite rings they have on offer, call (0)21-4189622 for the Cape Quarter Boutique; and (0)217889622 for the Kalk Bay Gallery. When you have set up an appointment, you will have the opportunity to express your design ideal and have a tanzanite ring exclusively crafter for you. ANPA also sells ready-made Tanzanite rings (officially certified) that are available online from the website or via email.
- As its name suggests, the Tanzanite Company specialises in providing high quality loose Tanzanite that has been certified and graded by the Tanzanite Foundation. The Tanzanite Company is one of only a few distributors that ate authorized by the Tanzanite Foundation, so you can be sure that any Tanzanite they sell is valued accurately is the genuinely and ethically mined. The company doesn’t only sell loose Tanzanite to jewellers, but also designs and produces ready0made Tanzanite rings and other jewellery a brand named Tanzanite Blue.
- Jewels For Me (http://www.jewelsforme.com/tanzanite-rings.asp) also has a section of their store specially dedicated to Tanzanite rings.
To find out more about Tanzanite rings and other jewellery, as well as about the gem itself, you can also visit the website of Tanzanite International (http://www.tanzanite-int.com/tanzanite.htm)
Despite its rarity and beauty, Tanzanite is currently only around a third of what is usually charged for sapphire. This means that although the jewels are of similar quality, Tanzanite is a much more affordable investment. As the gem becomes rarer, so will the price increase so now is a better time than any to take advantage of investing in a stunning Tanzanite ring.