Collection: Tanzanite

The name tanzanite was given to this fabulous stone because of the place of its discovery in Tanzania. It was first assimilated to a zoisite, a stone identified in 1805 by AG Werner in homage to Sigmund Zois (1747-1819), specialist in natural sciences.

However, the composition of tanzanite is so particular and well defined that it becomes a gem in its own right. Thus, in 1967, it received the name blue zoisite. At the time, zoisites were silicates with no value on the jewelry market.

Then the famous New York jewelry store Tiffany & Co noticed that this stone with a high proportion of vanadium has an exceptional blue. He then named it tanzanite. Thus, tanzanite owes its fame largely to the Tiffany house.

Basically, mineralogically speaking, zoisite is transparent. However, it also exists in shades of green, yellow, pink, orange and blue. Some colors are due to the presence of chromium and vanadium.

Tanzanite is therefore a variety of zoisite with a color ranging from blue to purple and belongs to the silicate family. It is a calcium aluminum silicate. Its deep blue comes from a heating treatment. It has an orthorhombic crystal system. It has a hardness of between 6 and 6.5 on the Mohs scale. Its luster is glassy and pearly.

Tanzanite forms in schists, gneisses and amphibolites. It results from the volcanic activity of the Kilimanjaro mountain range. One of its great particularities is its property of trichroism, this ability to change color depending on its orientation. Depending on the angle of observation, this stone shows blue, red-purple and sometimes bronze.

The history of tanzanite is directly linked to a story concerning the Maasai people. For decades, the Maasai people have considered blue a sacred color. In the past, women, after childbirth, received a blue present to bring good luck to the newborn and bring prosperity. Today, Maasai chiefs offer a tanzanite to the young mother.

In fact, tanzanite was discovered late in the 1960s. Following violent storms on the hills of Merelani, not far from the famous extinct volcano, Kilimanjaro, falling lightning lit numerous bush fires on these hills causing the Maasai shepherds to flee. On their return, the Maasai shepherds discovered with amazement and astonishment numerous dazzling blue stones. In fact, these stones, at first, were just common brown-gray pebbles, then they transformed under the effect of heat into superb blue gems.

The shepherds showed their magnificent blue stones to an explorer, who sent them to a gemologist for identification. He sent them to New York to the GIA (Gemological Institute of America). This authority on mineralogy had to admit that it was a still unknown variety of zoisite.

Today, it is said that tanzanite is 1000 times rarer than diamonds. This stone is very popular with jewelers and jewelers. The most common color of a tanzanite is purple overpowering blue.

The rarest stones are the blue ones and are therefore the most expensive. Some tanzanite sellers use the 4C diamond classification to evaluate the quality of their stones, others use the A, AA, AAA+ classification scale.

The only deposit is therefore in Tanzania on around twenty km2 on the hills of Merelani.

An extremely powerful stone, tanzanite exudes gentleness and benevolence. Its wearer feels undeniable well-being and calm. He feels serene and at peace.

Furthermore, this stone is recommended for students, artists, people in training: it stimulates the imagination, artistic creativity, writing, memory and the faculties of assimilation. It also develops a sense of humor and repartee.

This stone is the stone of new beginnings: it makes you want to start from scratch, whether professionally or emotionally. It pushes its wearer to train, to cultivate themselves in order to achieve their goals and to free themselves from a life that is too routine.

This stone generates self-fulfillment. It offers its wearer the opportunity to give the best of themselves. It improves self-confidence for shy and self-conscious people. A stone of fulfillment and renewal, it activates curiosity and the desire to fight for one's ideas.

Tanzanite provides eloquence to its wearer: it allows them to have fluid and composed speech. His voice is clear and the message comes across well. This mineral stone pushes its wearer to surpass themselves and defend their opinions.