Tanzanite: The Essence of Winter
- Cara Nicolas
- December 6, 2023
- 11:00 am
The rich crimsons and greens of Christmas are ubiquitous throughout December, but this time of year, the team at Sindur Fine & Antique Jewelry has rich shades of blue on the mind. Why? Because of the December birthstone: Tanzanite!
It’s easy to understand why people are entranced by tanzanite—its hues dance between the tranquil depths of sapphire blue and an enchanting violet. This chameleon-like quality makes tanzanite a particularly versatile gemstone, seamlessly complementing a wide array of styles and occasions; it has also become a common substitute for sapphires, which tend to have a higher price tag.
The stunning tanzanite perfectly captures the essence of winter, sparking thoughts of glittering snowflakes and velvety night skies scattered with stars—but there’s so much more to this rare and coveted gem. Read on to learn more about this spectacular stone.
New to the Scene:
Tanzanite is a relatively young gemstone, first unearthed in Tanzania in 1967. It can only be found in one place, near Mt. Kilimanjaro. It’s rarity has quickly propelled it to the ranks of the most sought-after gemstones in the world.
Generational Gem:
Since tanzanite is mined from just one area, it is sometimes referred to as the “gemstone of a generation”— current generations will be the only ones with access to the primary deposits of tanzanite unearthed in Tanzania. In fact, it is believed that the mines will be depleted in around 25 years.
A Spectrum of Color:
One of the hallmarks of tanzanite is its pleochroism, which is the ability of a gemstone to show different colors when viewed in different crystal directions. Tanzanite’s pleochroism was documented in scientific papers not long after its discovery; in 1969, American Mineralogist described the gem’s pleochroic colors as `red-violet, deep blue, and yellow green.’
A Treasured Gift:
In addition to being one of the designated birthstones for December, tanzanite is also used to celebrate the 24th wedding anniversary.
Queen of Kilimanjaro:
One of the most famous tanzanite stones in the world is The Queen of Kilimanjaro, a 242-carat stunner set in an ornate tiara, surrounded by 803 rare green tsavorite garnets and 913 diamonds.
Are you ready for tanzanite to be your December companion? Check out our current selection of tanzanite jewelry!