Tanzanite

Item Description

This is a wonderful saturated Tanzanite gem with an attractive purple-blue color. The stone has nearly eye-clean clarity, and a "Step Oval" cut. Tanzanite is an incredibly popular gem, but the name "Tanzanite" is used for the blue/purple variety of Zoisite, which is the actual species. It has been written in multiple publications that Tanzanite is the #1 investment gemstone for collectors and dealers in the U.S. The amazing colors of the stones combined with the fact that it is only found in one locality in the world, makes it one of the ultimate combinations of rarity and beauty. The Tanzanite mines at Merelani were first discovered in 1968 and the mining is done 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. This kind of control has allowed those who own the mine and the operation in general to keep a tight strangle hold on the global price of Tanzanite. It has been reported that a new grading system will soon be implemented for Tanzanite, making it the very first colored stone in history to have specific criteria that will allow gems to be categorized based on their cut, clarity, color, size etc. The ONLY system for grading gems in the world is used for Diamonds, but if faceted Tanzanites is to be held to the same standard, this will only increase the value of these already pricey gems. In Tucson, it was said the high retail value of the finest, large, deep blue Tanzanite stones has now reached $2000 per carat, and is expected to rise every year herein. 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.