Tanzanite, Not Your Everyday Gemstone

Looking to wow your one and only with a sparkly bauble? Diamonds are the traditional gift to woo your intended, but to really get the wow factor, try Tanzanite. Tanzanite is a newly discovered; as of 1967, precious gem from where else? Africa of course! Found in Tanzania on accident, Tanzanite is quickly making its way to the top of the list of sought-after gems.

A chance lightening strike setting the plains afire is how the Maasai tribe explains the existence of Tanzanite. The magic "fire from the sky" changed the crystals in the ground into the Tanzanite we all know and love. These shimmering blue-violet gems were picked up by the tribesmen in the belief it would make their lives better, and sure enough they did! In reality, there are numerous legends and claims of discovery by many, but the most widely accepted story is of a Maasai shepherd who found the crystals on the ground and brought them to a local Tailor who prospected as a hobby.

Shortly after their discovery, Tiffany and Co. took notice of the gem. Although the gem is truly a Blue Zoisite, the name was changed to a more appealing Tanzanite. By 1969, Tiffany and Co. developed a marketing slogan declaring, "Tanzanite can be found in only two places on Earth, Tanzania and Tiffany's." Henry B. Platt, great grandson of Louis Comfort Tiffany stated, "It is undoubtedly the most beautiful blue stone discovered in over 2,000 years."

Since Tanzanite is only found in one place on earth, it is one thousand times rarer than diamond. A fluke in geological transformation created the perfect condition over 585 million years ago for the formation of these spectacular gems. The presence of Vanadium changes the composition of normal zoisite to Tanzanite. This combination is so unique, that finding the same conditions anywhere on earth are one in a million.

Due to its scarcity, Tanzanite has a place of its own in the hierarchy of diamonds and colored gemstones. While traditionally, there were only two categories of precious gems, Tanzanite has distinguished itself from all others, evolving the hierarchy into a three class system; diamonds, tanzanite and all others. In addition, Tanzanite's rarity will also mean there is a limited amount available... period. The current mining schedule will deplete the source in one generation, more or less one decade. Rarity, one of the three categories for determining gemstones price, will make Tanzanite an heirloom piece to be passed down from mother to daughter for ages to come.