Magic Tanzanite

A brief history of tanzanite

Brief history of tanzanite

Tanzanite was discovered in 1967 in Tanzania, sent off to Germany where the dull looking stones were cut and polished before somebody had the brilliant idea to subject them to heat treatment.  Tiffany & Co in New York saw these beautiful stones and the rest, as they say, is history.

The world started taking notice and today, tanzanite is a sought after gemstone that continues to enchant people.

As the name suggests, it is named after its country of origin which is also the only place in the world where tanzanite is found. 

Most gemstones are priced according to the intensity of colour and tanzanite is no exception. The more intense blue stones will have a higher value than purple violet stones. Even with a brilliant colour, it is important to consider the cut of the stone before spending your hard earned money. Certain shapes will enhance the colour play and we quite like how a cushion, round or trilliant cut bring out the colour.

Unfortunately there are many imitations being sold as genuine tanzanite. We are not all gem experts so the best advice we can offer is to buy your tanzanite from a reputable dealer. Insist on a certificate from a known grading laboratory for extra peace of mind.