Standing amongst the rarest gemstones in the world, Tanzanite came into the limelight in the 60s. Famous for its unique colour, characteristics, and extreme rarity, Tanzanite has been turning eyes for almost half a century now. However, much like any other precious or exotic gemstone, the lack of knowledge about the stone often results in people making poor choices in getting their hands on a good quality Tanzanite.
Before getting into the tips, here is a short history on Tanzanite. First recognized in the year 1967, the stone is rare in the terms that it is only found in one mine near Mt Kilimanjaro, in the country of Tanzania. 1,000 times rarer than a diamond, the stone is expected to be completely mined out in the next couple of decades, which further increases the rarity of the stone.
Tips for Buying a Tanzanite
Colour
The most loved feature of Tanzanite as a gemstone is the brilliant colour quality that it possesses. Tanzanites are trichroic in nature, meaning that they show three different colours when viewed from different angles and in under different light conditions. The colour ranges from blue to brown, to violet-purple.
With that said, it is highly unlikely to find an entirely blue Tanzanite. They are usually found with a brown or golden hue and are then heat-treated to up to 550 degrees Celsius to obtain a beautiful blue colour. So, it is good practice to ask about the treatment before buying a Tanzanite.
Clarity
Clarity, which refers to the inclusions and impurities present inside a gemstone, is a major factor in Tanzanite’s value. This is because the stone is almost crystal clear, and any impurity would be immediately visible to the naked eye.
Owing to this, Tanzanite clarity is graded in 4 categories. Eye Clean (EC), Slightly Included (SI), Moderately Included (MI), and Heavily Included (HI). It is noteworthy that Tanzanites in grades SI and higher have impurities that are visible to the naked eye and are sold at comparatively lower prices.
Carat
Carat is the term used for the weight measurement of any gemstone. A carat is approximately 1/5th of a gram or about 200 milligrams. However, one should be careful while purchasing Tanzanite as two seemingly identical gems can have different carat weight. So, it is wise to have a certificate that ensures the weight of the gem.
Cut
The cut of a Tanzanite is the measure of proportions of the gemstone that allows the light to create maximum brilliance inside the stone. A better cut often reflects in the value of the stone as it showcases the best qualities of the stone.
Ethics
Much like other gemstones coming out of Africa, Tanzanite is also prone to illegal and unethical acquiring and marketing. That is why every authentic and legally acquired Tanzanite comes with a Mark of Rarity, a certificate solely provided by the Tanzanite Foundation.
Tanzanite is one of the many exotic semi-precious gemstones, which also happens to be extremely rare in the world. KGK Group boasts of being one of the few certified producers of polished Tanzanite, which also makes us one of the best gemstone manufacturers in Hong Kong and in the world. At KGK, you can get alluring Tanzanite pieces, custom-created according to your needs. Visit the link or call us to know more about the available variants.
