Tanzanite

Welcome to the most concise yet thorough guide to understanding tanzanite on the internet. Within the next half hour, you can learn enough about this fascinating relative newcomer to the world of gemstones to purchase them with confidence and peace of mind. Our mission is to give you unbiased facts so that you can make informed decisions, or just expand your horizons.

Whatever your goal, you will find this site to be informative, fun and, most of all, easy to use.

Did you know that tanzanite was originally introduced to market as a sapphire substitute? It's true. Tanzanite wasn't discovered until the 1960's! And, what began as a second string replacement has blossomed into one of the greatest success stories in gemstone history.

Even though tanzanite still sells for far less than sapphires and other gemstones, it is quickly becoming respected and prized for its unusual clarity and brilliance.

Unlike diamonds, rubies and emeralds, for which there are mines the world over, tanzanite is found only in Tanzania, Africa.

Tanzanite is actually classified in the gem world as a three-colored gem. So when you see deep blue, flashes of purple and shades of violet in one stone, you are observing qualities that any sapphire would be thrilled to claim, but they are exclusively tanzanite's.

If you have additional questions, or want more detailed information on any subject on this site, feel free to email our highly trained, professional staff at info@thediamond.com and we'd be happy to assist you in any way we can.

Now, have fun, and fall in love with this beautiful stone from the heart of Africa.

When it comes to color, tanzanite is one of the trickiest gemstones to judge. Of course, the color of all gems shifts slightly under varied lighting conditions. But tanzanite not only changes color under different light, but it can also display several shades of color at once. Therefore it is important to examine tanzanite under many light sources so you know what shades to expect from a particular stone. After you determine the many tones, look at the stone again under a neutral-fluorescent light (which best mimics mid-daylight) to make the final judgment of the predominant hue.

So what is the ideal color for tanzanite? And how should you go about examining this chameleon of a gemstone? Here's a few pointers:

1. Since tanzanite began its career as a substitute for blue sapphire, and because blue is the most popular color for any gemstone, deep-dark blue is considered tanzanite's most desirable hue.

2. Keep your desired color range in mind when evaluating each stone. Some will emit purple and violet tones, others may tend more toward reddish or orange.

3. Think in terms of hue, tone and overall purity when examining any gemstone. Remember that tanzanite is classified as a three-colored gemstone, so determining the hue and purity can be tricky.

4. Examine the stone from the top, sides and bottom under each lighting source. The strongest color under all tests will be the hue of that particular stone, the most consistent secondary colors will determine the tone, and the lack of gray and brown will fix the purity.

5. It is important to note that the most valuable dark-blue color is hard to find in tanzanite under two carats.

6. Also remember that because of tanzanite's intrinsic trichroic (three-colored) nature, it is one of the most difficult gemstones to match. This becomes a bigger factor if you are considering tanzanite for earrings or other jewelry where more than one stone will be used.

7. If you are buying a stone with the intention of reselling at some point, you should try to find the deep-blue of highest quality. However, if you are looking for a tanzanite to match your eyes, wardrobe or skin tone, you can afford a little more freedom in your decision.

With all gemstones, clarity is the term which describes how free from flaws a given stone is. Flaws are identified in two categories. Internal flaws, called inclusions, and external flaws, or blemishes. Tanzanite is probably the most transparent, or "eye-clean" (free from visible flaws) of all fine gems. Because of this, the tolerance of visible flaws in tanzanite is greatly reduced compared to other gemstones.

There are many types of flaws inherent in tanzanite, most of which are harmless. The only thing you need to look out for are cracks which could greatly weaken the stone, or dark blotches that block light passage, hence clarity.

The same method of investigating tanzanite for color quality can be used to qualify its clarity: examining from multiple light sources and angles. You're looking for inclusions and blemishes which won't be visible from all angles. These flaws can have a detrimental effect on the stone's overall transparency and uniformity of color dispersion. Look from top, bottom and sides under overhead lighting, first with the naked eye, then through a 10X loupe. Next, examine the stone from all angles with light shining through the sides. Here's a couple more handy tips:

1. Always clean stones with a soft cloth before examination. Oil and dirt can block transparency.

2. Only compare tanzanite with other tanzanite, and only with the same quality, cut and size.

3. It's best to purchase any gemstone loose. Settings can hide flaws and make grading of clarity and transparency very difficult.

Tanzanite is available in a wide variety of cuts and styles. From a simple cabochon (dome shaped) cut, to elaborate carvings, you pretty much have free reign to choose whatever style suits your fancy.

Although cut and style play a far smaller role in valuing tanzanite than do color, clarity and carat weight, there are a few cutting/style factors that will affect the cost of your stone.

1. Expect to pay a higher price for trilliant (a "brilliant" 58 faceted triangular cut) or round cut tanzanite than pear shaped or emerald shapes. This is due to the unavoidable loss of rough stone in cutting such refined shapes.

2. Because of naturally high transparency in tanzanite, many top European designers take extra time exploring unique faceting concepts to see just how brilliant their luster can be. These cuts will demand top dollar as well.

3. Keep in mind that lower quality stones will almost always be priced alike, regardless of cut and style.

So, just how do you go about judging the quality of cut in tanzanite? As with any gemstone, the best way to evaluate workmanship is to look at a lot of stones. As you examine the stones, think of these things:

1. Ask your jeweler to explain the many terms used to define cut and style.

2. Think in terms of proportion and symmetry.

3. Can you read the newspaper through a large "window" when looking directly into the top of the stone? That's not good. Large windows used to be popular and are still found in antique jewelry, but modern styles attempt to de-emphasize such effects.

4. Also when looking through the top, look for dark spots (called extinction.) You will almost see some areas of extinction, but with tanzanite, this should be minimal.

5. Is the culet (bottom point) centered? Very important.

6. Observe the stone from the profile. Think overall depth. You don't want the crown (top) to be too high, or the pavilion (bottom) to be too deep. The best way to envision proper depth, keep the image of diamond profiles you see all the time in mind, like those used for grading hotels, jeweler's advertisements, etc. That's the paradigm of good depth percentage.

Simply put, a carat is a carat is 1/5th of one gram. There is one tanzanite specific issue when it comes to carats. That is that due to their transparency, the smaller stones will tend to be fairly light in color. Since deep-dark-blue is the most valuable color for tanzanite, if you are looking for that color, you may have to limit your search to stones over two carats. The good thing is that tanzanite is relatively inexpensive in gemstone terms, so a top-quality two carat tanzanite would still cost substantially less than a sapphire of the same size. Other than that, the following carat rules apply to all gemstones:

1. Think in terms of "per-carat cost" rather than total cost. This is because price per carat varies depending on scarcity of stones, quality of a stone, popularity of a stone or cut, etc.

2. When shopping for set stones, beware of "total weight" labels. Always determine the weight of the stone before it was set.

3. Due to the variability of cost per carat factors, always compare stones of the same size, cut, and overall quality.

4. Remember that tanzanite stones under 1/2 carat are generally priced by millimeter size, not by carat weight.

5. Just because a carat is a carat, doesn't mean that one carat tanzanite is the same size as one carat anything else. Different stones have different densities and should only be judged amongst themselves. Even then, cut can have an illusory effect, so compare matching cuts as well.

You're ready to go shopping? Print out this checklist and take it along with you to the jeweler's. As you satisfy all of the factors on this sheet, you will be determining the perfect tanzanite for you. So, grab a soft cloth to clean each stone, a 10X magnifying loupe, and hit the stores. And remember the main thing: Have fun!

Color: Tanzanite is a trichoic (three-colored) gemstone. Look for shades of purple, violet, red or orange in this mostly blue stone. Determine the hue (predominant color) tone (prominent secondary colors) and purity (consistency of color and lack of brown and gray.) Examine the stone under many lighting sources, from all angles and then again under regular daylight to truly pinpoint the exact quality, tone and uniformity of color of each stone. Deep dark-blue is the most valuable hue for tanzanite but is hard to find in stones under 2 carats. Pick a hue that suits your skin tone, wardrobe and hair color.

Clarity: Compare stones of similar shape, color and size. Tanzanite is typically "eye-clean" (free from visible flaws) look closely under various light sources and from every angle. Look for flaws that block transparency and uniformity of color. Keep an eye out for cracks, they can threaten durability. It's always discern flaws and clarity in loose stones.

Carats: Compare stones of like weight, cut and overall quality. Think in terms of "price-per-carat" not total cost. Watch out for "total weight" price tags, you want to know the cost-per-carat of the stone prior to setting. Stones under one-half carat will be priced in millimeter size, not carat weight. Tanzanite under 2 carats typically won't have the deep dark-blue of the most precious stones.

Cut and Style: Round and trilliant ("brilliant" cut with 58 facets in triangular shape) styles will cost more than other cuts and shapes. Think proportion and symmetry and examine the stone from all angles. Make sure there is not a large "window" when viewing the stone from the top. Is the culet (bottom point) centered? From the profile is the depth good? (keep familiar diamond symbols in mind.)

Tanzanite is a new gemstone. Only discovered in the 1960's, there has been little time to establish a market for this beautiful gem. Therefore, the price is still relatively low in the world of jewels and imitations and deceptive practices are essentially non-existent.

However, there are a few things you should be aware of:

1. Remember that tanzanite is trichroic (three-colored,) make sure you can see at least two of them.

2. Looking for a lighter blue in your tanzanite? Iolite ("water sapphire") is another three colored stone that can look a lot like tanzanite, but which costs much less. Iolite is usually bluer than tanzanite and may appear colorless when you look at it from the sides. Make sure your jeweler knows you know the difference.

3. Beware of closed back settings. You probably won't encounter this with tanzanite, but, if you do, just remember that it is the best way to hide flaws that could ruin the value of your stone.

Very briefly, when tanzanite is mined, it is almost always grayish or brownish. Once in awhile a "rough" will come out purple or blue, but for those that don't, heat treatment is there. This treatment brings out the beautiful blues and purples tanzanite is becoming so famous for. You need not worry about this. The treatment is permanent, therefore totally acceptable. Heated stones sell for the same price as untreated ones. We just thought you'd like to know that the practice exists so when a jeweler tells you about it, you won't be caught off guard. You can also use this as a good test for any unknown jeweler. Ask him if his tanzanite has been heat-treated. If he says no, you might want to consider another dealer. If he says yes, you not only have an honest jeweler, you probably will have won new respect from him and he will treat you accordingly.

The above information was sourced from www.TheDiamond.com.
Contact: info@thediamond.com
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