Tanzanite Buyer’s Guide

A thousand times rarer than a diamond and uniquely African, Tanzanite is one of the most sought-after limited resources on the planet, currently only found in Tanzania. Its mineralogical name is Blue Zoisite, Tanzanite was given its trade name by the world-renowned Tiffany & Co. in the 1960s. Tanzanite in its rough form exhibits a phenomenon called pleochroism – it displays three different colours radiating a magnificent spectrum of blue, violet-red hues and greenish-yellow, when looked at from different angles. The combination of rarity, exclusivity and sheer magnificence makes Tanzanite the ultimate stone to own, one of nature’s rarest gemstones.

Tanzanite Grading

The quality of cut tanzanite gems are graded according to the 4C’s criteria: Colour, Cut, Clarity and Carat Weight.

Colour

Colour, pertains to the quality and intensity of the hue. The intensity of colour is classified into various levels, from Pale to Exceptional, with distinctions made based on whether the dominant hues are predominantly Blue or Violet.

Cut

The term “cut” encompasses more than just the shape of the gem; it also includes factors like the brilliance, proportions, and finish of the Tanzanite. When Tanzanite is rated as having an “Excellent” cut, it means that the stone’s facets are positioned in a way that optimally reflects light, resulting in maximum brilliance.

Clarity

Clarity refers to the natural inclusions that may be present in the gem, ranging from EC – Eye Clean to HI – Heavily Included.

Carat Weight

Carat weight serves as a metric to gauge the mass of a gemstone. A single carat corresponds to ⅕ of a gram. While carat weight can provide a general idea of a gem’s size, it may not always be entirely precise due to differences in the cut of the gemstone.