Tanzanite

Item Description

Tanzanite is a very popular colored stone. The material is the blue/purple variety of the mineral Zoisite (which gets its color from vanadium content). It has only been found in one place in the world, the Merelani Hills of Tanzania. The first examples of Tanzanite were discovered in 1968, and today the production goes deep into the earth on a large commercial scale where almost every good piece of Tanzanite can be recovered quickly, faceted at or near the mine site, and shipped throughout the world in finished condition. The beautiful color and limited quantity of the material is what keeps it so in-demand. In fact, I was told in Tucson that Tanzanite is still the #1 colored gemstone in the United States in terms of overall sales. People just love these amazing and colorful gems, and Tanzanite remains as the top investment stone for collectors and dealers alike. They are truly one of the ultimate combinations of rarity and beauty in gem world. It is believed that the supply of Tanzanite at Merelani will last no longer than 10 more years, at which point the mining will cease, and no more Tanzanite may ever be mined again. Once the supply is cut off, you can expect that the price of Tanzanite will sky-rocket. This particular stone is a "Round" cut gem with a fairly saturated blue-purple color and some very very slight inclusions. A nice representative gem for a collector or a modest piece of jewelry.