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Tanzanite is a very rare gemstone, especially in vintage jewellery. In fact, this particular stone can take on different colours, from blue to purple and in between. What is very unique about this stone is that it is mined in only one place in the world, more on this later. The unique and intense colour gives the stone a mystical look which makes any ring, necklace or earring a huge eye-catcher. Apart from all this, the stone is also considered the birthstone of December. In this blog, we will elaborate on the history of the stone, origins, jewellery with tanzanite and more.
As mentioned earlier, Tanzanite is a rare gemstone, the stone owes its unique name to the location where it was first found; namely the merelani hills in northern Tanzania. These hills lie in the shadow of Mount Kilimanjaro, so this is the only place where natural tanzanite can be found. Around 1967, a shepherd accidentally found several different shiny blue stones in a dry landscape. After longer research, people found out that they were not sapphire but a new variant of zoisite, a specific mineral. These unique properties made the gemstone very exclusive, which made many famous jewellers rush to have the stone in jewellery. Here you can think of a Tiffany & Co, they found that tanzanite therefore symbolised luxury and sophistication.
Following this discovery around 1967, the stone's popularity grew tremendously fast, thanks in part to its promotion by renowned jewellery house Tiffany & Co. in the late 1960s. Indeed, they introduced the gemstone as ‘the most beautiful blue gemstone found in 2,000 years’. Thus, in the 1970s and 1980s, Tanzanite made its appearance in high-end jewellery, often combined with diamonds and unique designs were produced. At one point, the only problem was that the mining supply in Tanzania was slowly depleting. Therefore, a ring with tanzanite is considered a luxury piece of jewellery, beautiful eye-catcher but above all a valuable heirloom that can survive generations.
Apart from its rarity and beautiful colour, Tanzanite also has a deeper spiritual and emotional symbolism. Because of the blue-purple colour of the stone, it is associated with the throat and crown chakras. This means Tanzanite is a powerful stone for enhancing self-expression, intuition and spiritual growth. The gemstone could act as a guide to help find inner peace and bring clarity to complicated problems or situations. Tanzanite has a calming energy and is said to allow you to release anxiety and stress, making it an ideal choice in jewellery for many people to find balance and harmony in their lives.
Besides its spiritual symbolism, people also feel a deep emotional connection with the gemstone. Tanzanite is often gifted at certain milestones, such as an anniversary of love or mutual support and connection between two people. It is the birthstone of December and a popular 25th wedding anniversary gift because of its representation of new beginnings and growth.
A lot of stylish jewellery with Tanzanite was made in the 1970s and 1980s, as this was the period when the stone's popularity was on the rise. Tanzanite was often combined with diamonds in rings, Tanzanite then often being the centrepiece surrounded by diamonds. This could also occur in classic pendant and earring designs. In these years, refinement of jewellery was very important, therefore the designs from this era are unique and with a lot of handwork. Tanzanite is also used in modern jewellery, and is a popular choice for wedding rings because of its symbolic significance. Designs are various from minimalist, sleek designs to more bold statement pieces. So whether it is a ring, pendant, earring or bracelet, Tanzanite always adds a touch of luxury and sophistication.
To recognise tanzanite, you can look at several characteristics that we discuss in this paragraph. The most striking feature, then, is its colour, as it is deep blue to purple, with a characteristic trichroism, which means the colour changes depending on light and viewing angle. In addition, tanzanite is a reasonably hard gemstone, as it has a score of 6.5 to 7 on the Mohs scale. This makes the stone reasonably durable and thus suitable for daily use, but sensitive to scratches. Furthermore, the stone has a bright and vibrant colour with no visible inclusions. And finally, to really confirm that something is Tanzanite, it is best to have a professional jeweller or gem expert test the stone with specialised equipment.
A rare gemstone found exclusively in Tanzania, Tanzanite is known for its mesmerising colour variations from blue to purple. Discovered in 1967, the stone quickly became popular thanks to jewellers such as Tiffany & Co. Tanzanite has deep spiritual significance, such as promoting intuition and self-expression, and is often given as a gift at important milestones. In jewellery, tanzanite is a popular choice, especially in vintage designs from the 1970s and 1980s, often combined with diamonds. Recognise Tanzanite by its colour change and durability, and have its authenticity tested by a professional to be sure.
