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GIA Celebrates Birthstones – Tanzanite, Tanzania’s Treasure
Tanzanite, December’s birthstone, is found in the shadows of the majestic Mount Kilimanjaro in Tanzania, the only commercial source for the gemstone.
Tanzanite is trichroic; it shows different colors when viewed in different directions. One direction is blue, another purple and another burgundy.
In 1967, an Indian tailor prospecting for gems as a hobby discovered the beautiful gemstone. It was eventually named tanzanite in honor of its country of origin. The gem is often described as “velvety,” mostly because of its deep and saturated color, which ranges from a pure rich blue to strong violet with the blue considered most valuable.
6.88-carat tanzanite platinum and diamond ring. Courtesy of Richard Krementz Gemstones.
Tanzanite is a variety of the mineral zoisite, and is trichroic, which means it shows three different colors depending on how you look at it. Viewed from one direction the stone is blue, from another, purple, and another, burgundy. December’s birthstone is said to provide balance when worn.
Winner of the 2007 Tanzanite Foundation’s “Be Born to Tanzanite,” the “Flowerfly” necklace prominently features 2-trilliant cut tanzanites set in gold and platinum. Courtesy of Zoltan David.
Check out tanzanite in the GIA Celebrates Birthstones exhibit at the GIA Carlsbad campus. Schedule a free tour 24 hours in advance by contacting guestservices@gia.edu; calling 800-421-7250, ext. 4116 or 760-603-4116; or visiting www.gia.edu.