Tanzanite is an extraordinary gemstone with a fantastic colour which varies from deep blue to ultramarine to light violet (with the most coveted colour being blue surrounded by a delicate hint of purple). It can be found in only one place in the world and is named after the East African state of Tanzania where it was discovered in 1967. Working with tanzanite can sometimes give the most experienced cutter a bit of a headache because the cleavage of this gemstone is very pronounced in one direction. If you visit the Diamond Store you will see that this exclusive birthstone is cut in every a variety of different shapes from the classical round to a number of imaginative contemporary designer cuts.
When the first tanzanites were offered to the Tiffany’s jewellery store in New York they descried it as a “sensation”. But they did recommend that its original name was changed as its gemmologically correct name is zoisite which was felt to be too close to the word “suicide”. So Tiffany's proposed the name tanzanite linking it to where the stone had been found, and then launched the exclusive gemstone with a huge advertising campaign. So thanks to its unusual aura and Tiffany’s help, the tanzantine has rapidly become one of the most coveted gemstones in the world. The Diamond Store has some stunning tanzanite jewellery for sale including some tanzanite earrings with diamonds in the shape of a star or as a sparkling line of gemstones hugging your ear.
Because it has become so popular, in 2002 the American Gem Trade Association officially added the tanzanite to the traditional list of birthstones linking it to the month of December (which already has the beautiful blue gemstones of turquoise and blue zircon). It is the anniversary stone for twenty four years of marriage and is rumoured to uplift and open the heart. The Diamond Store website lists all categories of jewellery and you will see some very beautiful pieces in tanzanite. Our tanzanite earrings are currently on offer at some unrepeatable prices which we are only able to offer until current stocks run out.
