Tanzanites! Tell me all about them!

[lasscreative]

Ok this is what I know
The are quite soft. 6 on the MOH''s scale
They are tri colour type stone, look at in its dark blue, dark purple or dark pink
Only found in one part of the world, the foothills of Mount Kilimanjaro in Tanzania.

What I would like to know! How much am I looking at scoring an amazing 1 - 1.5 ct stone? What are red flags to look for?
I think I want a cushion cut? What cut would you recommend?
and what sites are reputable in selling these - OR - where did you get yours??

Show me pics and spill your info!!
Thanks
Lass

 

[Pandora II]

My current thoughts on tanzanite:

- Overpriced
- Over-rated
- Too soft to wear in rings
- Nearly all are heat-treated
- There is coated material on the market

I would 100 times rather buy a tanzanite coloured sapphire.

 

[T L]

Date: 11/2/2008 7:00:41 AM
Author: Pandora II
My current thoughts on tanzanite:

- Overpriced
- Over-rated
- Too soft to wear in rings
- Nearly all are heat-treated
- There is coated material on the market

I would 100 times rather buy a tanzanite coloured sapphire.

Thanks for echoing my thoughts. I also thought ten years ago that the mine only had ten years left, and now they''re still saying the mine has ten years left.

However, if you are going to get one, I do hear the trilliant cut really is the best for the color, but I recommend a tanzanite colored sapphire instead, like PandoraII.

 

[coatimundi_org]

Date: 11/2/2008 7:00:41 AM
Author: Pandora II
My current thoughts on tanzanite:


- Overpriced

- Over-rated

- Too soft to wear in rings

- Nearly all are heat-treated

- There is coated material on the market


I would 100 times rather buy a tanzanite coloured sapphire.

Agreed!

Most Tanzanite comes out of the ground brown--must be heated to achieve a salable color.

The mining practices go beyond unethical. Robert Weldon came to speak to us at GIA about "fair trade in gemstones"--he reported that he did not observe changes in tanzanite mining touted by a certain group. In fact, he saw little change at all. Gem mining can be brutal, and Tanzanite mining epitomizes the concept.

Not my bag...

Violet sapphire on the other hand...

 

[Harriet]

I agree in large part with the above posters. However, if you like them, here''s a reputable source: www.paraibainternational.com

 

[T L]

What''s even sadder is that these gemstones are so overpriced per carat. The gem shopping networks are milking the uneducated consumer as much as they can out of money with the "mine is running dry and only one sorce locale" for years now. If I see another "super cobalt blue dark neon world class" tanzanite one more time, I''m going to be ill.

Now, there are some very beautiful tanzanites, no doubt, but it''s so common, and I really do think they''re overpriced. Well, we could say the same thing about diamonds I suppose, but a diamond is much more durable and will last many generations if you take care of it. Drop a tanzanite in an ultrasonic cleaner, and it''s tanzanite gravel. Not a very durable stone at all. If you do get tanzanite, set it in earrings or a pendant, broach. I get so mad at all the tanzanite rings out there for sale. I have a tanzanite ring that I bought before anyone knew what tanzanite was. I rarely wore it, and it still has tons of microchips and pits when you loupe it.

I fail to understand why Tiffany & Co charges more for their legacy tanzanite ring than the sapphire. Now that irks me!!

 

[Harriet]

Date: 11/2/2008 1:09:46 PM
Author: tourmaline_lover
What's even sadder is that these gemstones are so overpriced per carat. The gem shopping networks are milking the uneducated consumer as much as they can out of money with the 'mine is running dry and only one sorce locale' for years now. If I see another 'super cobalt blue dark neon world class' tanzanite one more time, I'm going to be ill.

Now, there are some very beautiful tanzanites, no doubt, but it's so common, and I really do think they're overpriced. Well, we could say the same thing about diamonds I suppose, but a diamond is much more durable and will last many generations if you take care of it. Drop a tanzanite in an ultrasonic cleaner, and it's tanzanite gravel. Not a very durable stone at all. If you do get tanzanite, set it in earrings or a pendant, broach. I get so mad at all the tanzanite rings out there for sale. I have a tanzanite ring that I bought before anyone knew what tanzanite was. I rarely wore it, and it still has tons of microchips and pits when you loupe it.

I fail to understand why Tiffany & Co charges more for their legacy tanzanite ring than the sapphire. Now that irks me!!

They should not be in rings. My friend (I spy you

) scratched hers on the table the first time she wore it.

 

[T L]

It's a pity since the nicest examples are very beautiful colors. I saw one on gemshopping the other day that was 31 carats in a TDF diamond halo ring (not for the faint of heart) and it cost as much as a nice car. Wouldn't it be a pity to buy such a ring only to scratch and scuff it up. Tanzanites of that color and size should be reserved for museums or for very rarely worn pendants or broaches. It's one thing to scuff up your car (you can easily repair that), but if you get a good nick or chip in that tanzanite, you're out of a lot of money, and the stone cannot be repaired except for a recut. It was a drop dead gorgeous tanzanite, and even me, who is sick to death of tanzanite couldn't help but not stare at it. It was that deep indigo blue with the red flashes, and very very saturated in color.

Another stone I love that reminds me of tanzanite, but it's also soft and should be carefully worn, is benitoite. I have a .75 carater that sits in a box. However, it's about a billion times rarer than tanzanite.

Here's a nice one from paraibainternational in the coveted trillion cut around your size range. They take offers, and they are a highly reputable firm. Ask them about their existing stock as well (they don't post everything they have).

http://www.paraibainternational.com/product_info.php?product=1616

 

[Harriet]

I like the colour of the ones with the red flashes. ParaibaI does list their entire inventory online, but they can call in additional ones.

 

[lasscreative]

Thank you for your honest assessment! I really appreciate it! I am so glad I found this site!
Ok I now don''t want one! Thanks lol!

 

[marcy]

All true - but I have a couple of tanzanite rings and love them. I don''t wear them often but I haven''t had any problems with them either. It is a pretty stone.

 

[T L]

I thought I was being sooooo careful with my tanzanite. I didn''t see any chips or nicks in it after very little wearing. Took a loupe to it one day and the microchips were all over the place. Even wiping it with cloth can potentially scratch it. Some stones are soft, but not as fragile (a pearl is a good example of this). Tanzanite is both soft and fragile.

 

[marcy]

Date: 11/4/2008 9:22:46 PM
Author: tourmaline_lover
I thought I was being sooooo careful with my tanzanite. I didn''t see any chips or nicks in it after very little wearing. Took a loupe to it one day and the microchips were all over the place. Even wiping it with cloth can potentially scratch it. Some stones are soft, but not as fragile (a pearl is a good example of this). Tanzanite is both soft and fragile.

I''ll have to go check mine out now. Sorry to hear yours has tiny chips all over it.

 

[T L]

You have to loupe it to see the "microchips." They''re not visible with the naked eye. Over time, the facet edges get worn away as well. It''s just such a fragile stone.