Stone Stories Part IV: Tanzanite

This series is intended as a love letter to the inspiration of many of my jewelry designs: rocks. With a little spit and polish, even the most humble stone can become precious. Instead of merely using traditional gemstones, I hunt for stones that in some way are like no other. As I seek to design and create one-of-a-kind adornments, I'm looking for ways to reflect the unique personality of the wearer. For me the value in these materials is their singular beauty. I hope you enjoy learning a little more about the stones I use, why I use them, and (for those who like the science) a little more information on how and where these stones are formed.

Story behind the Stone: Tanzanite

Why this stone?

Tanzanite makes me feel light and happy when I see it. These stones are like little fairy treasures! They have a beautiful violet-blue color that changes with the light.  Some of the tanzanites in my collection have shown a distinctly blue-green-purple color play within one stone, some are more of a periwinkle blue-lavender. If I'm being honest, I rarely-if ever-consider the "worth" of a stone when I'm selecting gems to use in my work. It always comes down to an emotional and esthetic response. I don't worry if it will be a popular choice, or if it's trending. If I love it and can imagine designing a piece around it, then it's a stone that has met my most important criteria. For me, Tanzanite is all about the color, and my customers seem to agree. This is a gem in my collections that sells out quickly and I think you can see why. 

 I don't remember when I first came across Tanzanite, but I do know that it gets a lot of attention at art shows--especially from those fans of blues and purples. I prefer this stone in cabochons or rose-cuts, where the color play is more visible and you can enjoy a larger stone at a reasonable cost. 

Most people are intrigued by the color and are surprised to learn what it is, having only seen it as a faceted stone (if they've ever seen or heard of it at all). Tanzanite looks equally amazing whether set in silver or gold. 

Tanzanite is the birthstone for December babies (along with Turquoise and zircon)! 

Where it is found

 Exclusively mined in Tanzania, tanzanite is treasured for its unique blue-violet coloration as well as its rarity.

How it is formed

Tanzanite is a form of the mineral zoisite, which forms in metamorphic rocks when heat and pressure effect change on existing minerals. The presence of vanadium along with heat cause the blue-violet color. Tanzanite exhibits trichroism, or color-changing properties, meaning it changes from blue to violet to burgundy depending on the angle at which the stone is viewed. 

You can find more examples of my work featuring tanzanite in my Eye Candy collection.