Take a look at our New Arrivals: a variety of selections now available!
Before we jump into how you can read a Tanzanite certificate, here are a few facts about this blue gemstone.
Tanzanite as a name was first used by Tiffany and Company in reference to the Blue Zoisite mineral that was discovered in Tanzania in 1967.
Tanzania being the only known source of the stone in the world makes it a very rare gem. It is only fair to assume that there may be gem imitations in the market as the popularity of this gemstone continues to grow in demand while the supply remains constant.
A study conducted in 2012 showed that there was only about 30 years' worth of supply remaining in the ground.
To ensure one is paying for the right piece, a Tanzanite Certificate of Authenticity comes in handy when buying the rare blue gemstone. This certificate is essential in confirming the authenticity, characteristics, and provenance of your gemstone.
It’s important to have knowledge of some of the terminologies that you will find in a Certificate. A professional and honest jeweler will give you a certificate and will go through the details with you. He/she will explain what the specifications in your certificate mean in relation to the global grading standard.
With that said, the information he will give you at the time of purchase may be too much to absorb within a short period of time. You are advised to familiarize yourself with the specifications on your Certificate prior to making a purchase. It will be easier to understand your certificate if you have gone through some of the technical languages beforehand.
To create a grading benchmark, the Tanzanite Foundation introduced a color grading system that is now used by sellers and buyers worldwide. The Tanzanite Foundation is a non-profit organization that helps in the education of consumers about this rare blue gemstone. Understanding the color grading system will help you decode the information printed on the certificate to make an informed buying decision.
In addition to color grading, it is also important to understand other factors that make up the 4Cs. The 4C’s i.e Color, Carat, Cut and Clarity play an important role in determining the value of the gemstone that you are looking at buying. Read our guide to buying Tanzanite online that explains in detail the 4C’s and how they can affect your buying decision.
Once you understand this concept, you will be perfectly positioned to understand where your Tanzanite of choice falls under the global grading system.
Your certificate will indicate a number assigned to your stone. Each stone has its own unique number that can be used to trace the stone’s origin, ethical background, and authenticity.
Being rare, with a single known source of Tanzanite in the world, Tanzanite has become vulnerable to unethical mining and unethical routes to market. Ethical mining means that the Tanzanite has been mined in a controlled environment, under safe conditions for the miners, with fair working practices, and has followed an ethical route to market.
The certificate is a confirmation that the piece of gemstone that you will be buying has been mined in adherence to the Tucson Tanzanite Protocol, Labor, and Human Rights laws.
Not to be mistaken with the Cut, the shape of Tanzanite refers to the actual shape which the stone has been given. Tanzanite in the retail market comes in all forms of cuts and shapes, such as round, oval, cushion, and more.
While the selection of the shape of Tanzanite is about personal preferences, some shapes are more popular than others. Many traditional shapes such as cushions and ovals have retained their popularity over time, however more modern and unconventional shapes have also been introduced. You can visit our collection of Tanzanite jewelry to view the different shaped stones that we have on offer.
Along with the cut, the shape can greatly influence the value and price of a Tanzanite gemstone depending on the resulting brilliance and proportions achieved by the cut.
The dimension or size of Tanzanite refers to its length, width, and height. Tanzanite's dimension is usually measured in millimeters. Dimension should not be confused with the weight or mass of the gem which is measured in terms of carats.
The carat weight of your Tanzanite does not have a direct relation to the size or look of the gem. Two gemstones of the same carat weight can have different looks and sizes
