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When it comes to gemstones, everyone wants something that’s nothing short of spectacular and tanzanite fits the bill thanks to its vibrant violetish-blue hue. Often mistaken for a sapphire, on close inspection, you’ll see its trichroic nature (exhibiting 3 colors) nature, setting it apart from the rest.
A tanzanite gemstone is subjected to a process that helps bring out its ‘true’ colors.
The science behind tanzanite’s heating process
A piece of tanzanite, prior to heating, can easily be mistaken for a regular crystal. However, the same gemstone, post its heat treatment, will have you immediately looking for tanzanite jewelry for sale.
Tanzanite, a variety of the Zoisite mineral in its natural form, occurs in the earthy shades of brown, red, and sometimes burgundy. The stone is heated in a gemological oven with temperatures that go as high as 600 degrees. The result produces a brilliant array of blues and violets, with a little red mixed in.
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The process of heating does not change the gemstone; it simply removes the predominant shades of brown by causing a chemical reaction within its structure. The intensity of the stone’s color remains unaffected by the heat. A deep brown tanzanite will turn deep blue or violet after heating, while a light brown piece will appear pale blue or violet. The vibrant hues of treated tanzanite make for unique tanzanite jewelry.
The legend of the tanzanite
The process began in the late 1960s when tanzanite was first discovered. A fire, caused by a lightning strike, burned a large area in the eastern region of Tanzania, at the foothills of majestic Mount Kilimanjaro. Here tanzanite, in its raw zoisite form, underwent a natural heat treatment. W\hen the fire stopped raging, a Maasai tribesman discovered a stunning crystal that exhibited a passionate violet-blue color. Manuel D’Souza, a prospector from India, who was on-site, thought he found his fortune in a new sapphire deposit, little did he know. He quickly laid claim to the area, registering four mines and discovering one of the newest and most gorgeous gemstones in the world.
Since tanzanite is exclusive to this region, it’s estimated that the mines could run dry in a few years. It heightens its value making any and every owner of tanzanite a custodian of the rare gemstone.
When you wish to buy tanzanite - loose tanzanite or fabulous tanzanite jewelry, TopTanzanite is the world's largest online retailer of this precious gemstone. For over 4 decades, we have ethically sourced the gemstone, as a mine-to-market brand and use our in-house facilities to give us full control to produce only the highest-quality loose stones for customization or stunning jewelry pieces.
Visit our website to take a look at our vast collection of tanzanite jewelry designs, and follow us on social media for updates and offers.
