Tanzanite is one of the most unique and desirable gemstones currently known around the world. Its rarity and preciousness can be directly linked to the exclusivity of its source. These deep blue-violet gems can only be found in the foothills of Mount Kilimanjaro. Tanzanite, thus, acquired its name as a symbol of pride for its country of origin, Tanzania.

There are a few mining bases located around the Mererani hills at the foot of the mountain in the city of Arusha. According to experts, the current supply of gemstones has decreased significantly over the years. This unique stone will be a rare commodity in the next 25 to 30 years making it “a pedra preciosa da geração”.

There is a high chance that this will be the last generation to mine, wear and buy first-hand Tanzanite gemstones before the supply runs out. The gemstone’s limited scarcity has made it a thousand times rarer than diamonds, making it all the more special.

A História da Tanzanite

Em 1967, um pastor Maasai deparou-se com as pedras preciosas enquanto caminhava perto do sopé do Monte Kilimanjaro. Inicialmente pensou ter tropeçado em safiras coloridas, estas pedras foram mais tarde confirmadas como sendo uma nova variedade de pedras preciosas. Os célebres joalheiros de Nova Iorque, Tiffany & Co., popularizaram a nova pedra preciosa cerca de um ano após a sua descoberta e cunharam o seu novo nome Tanzanite como símbolo da sua herança.

A maioria das pedras preciosas mais populares do mundo foram descobertas e postas em uso durante centenas de anos. A tanzanita, por outro lado, só chegou à ribalta há poucos anos. Apesar de ter sido formada há cerca de 585 milhões de anos, a gema não foi descoberta e utilizada em quantidades comerciais até ao início da década de 1960.

Uma Pedra Vibrante

Tanzanite is trichroic in nature, which means that it can radiate different colors when positioned at different angles. For instance, under the midday sun, it radiates a deep blue hue while later on in the course of the day, it will radiate different colors from intense violet to pale lavender and sky blue. These colors include blue, purple, and red all of which combined give it a vibrant indigo color.

Ocasionalmente, as pessoas podem comprar Jóias de tanzanite que é de cor verde ou rosa. No entanto, a maioria das jóias tanzanitas que hoje em dia são vendidas são de cor azul. O azul da tanzanite é causado por pequenas quantidades de vanádio dentro da sua estrutura mineral de zoisite.

O tratamento térmico que as jóias da Tanzanite undergoes is very mild in comparison to the processes for other stones including sapphires and rubies. The world’s only Tanzanite Museum at the Tanzanite Experience will offer you a close-up view of the magical Tanzanite gemstones, and their process from the raw stone to the mesmerizing gem.

Aside from their vibrant color, Pedras preciosas da Tanzanite are extremely durable which is why they are sold as earrings, pendants, and other jewelry items. They are resistant to impact and abrasions and can last for multiple generations. They come in different sizes. The small stones are cut for sale and larger stones are showcased in showrooms to be purchased by collectors and investidores.