Alright, we’ll admit it, when it comes to colored jewels, the tanzanite is easily one of the most charming gems.
Want to buy this marvelous gemstone but don’t know what color to pick? Read on to find the answer you need and more.
First Things First, What Makes This Gem Special?
Apart from its color, there are multiple answers to this question. However, we’ve listed down two of the most important ones for your understanding:-
• Exclusivity and Rarity
Unlike most gemstones, tanzanites can only be found in the foothills of Mount Kilimanjaro and that too within a small seven square kilometer area (approximately). Due to high demand and limited availability, the tanzanite is believed to be a thousand times rarer than diamonds.
• Interesting Backstory
The arguments surrounding this gemstone’s discovery definitely add to its appeal. It is said that in the 1960s, the foothills of Mount Kilimanjaro caught fire due to a lightning strike. After a while, when walking through the scorched land, a group of Maasai herders came across violet-blue crystals.
Later it was named tanzanite after its sole place of origin.
So, What Causes the Tanzanite’s Color?
The tanzanite is one of the only gemstones in the world that is trichroic in nature. This essentially means that it features three colors at the same time – blue, purple and red (Note: Only hints of red are visible in the gem).
These gorgeous hues are typically caused by the traces of vanadium and chromium present within the stone’s chemical structure.
Once mined, most tanzanites are heated to a temperature of 600 degrees Celsius. This is done to oxidate their vanadium content and improve their overall color.
The Main Question…What Is the Best Tanzanite Color?
As mentioned above, these jewels typically showcase three hues at the same time. Having said that, tanzanites with a dominant blue color are considered to be the most valuable of the lot.
This is primarily because the blue variety is quite rare and is, therefore, more likely to yield a higher return (from the investment point of view). Apart from this, the shade also makes the stone appear more extravagant, thus ensuring that you get the most bang for your buck.
Important Things to Consider When Buying a Tanzanite
• Tanzanite Color Chart
Over the years, several color charts have been created in order to characterize and differentiate between exceptional tanzanites and average ones.
Some color charts consider all three – the hue of the stone, its saturation and tone as one entity and grade the jewel after careful consideration of all three aspects. Inversely, one can also find several charts which single out each value and grade their gem differently based on the same.
For ease of understanding, we’re going to discuss the saturation and tone of the jewel today and highlight the different grade levels of each.
1) Saturation
Simply put, the term ‘saturation’ refers to the depth of color, that is, the extent to which the hue ‘fills’ the jewel. In other words, this value talks about the purity (brightness or intensity) of the hue. Based on the same, each stone is given a number grade between 1 and 6.
Here, gems placed in the first 3 grades are normally defined by their distinct gray or brown modifiers. On the other hand, jewels graded higher than 4 normally feature a purer color.
The finest quality tanzanites generally display a saturation level of 6. This results in a vivid color that’s rare and truly catches the eye.
2) Tone
The tone of a gemstone refers to its relative lightness or darkness. It is caused by the gem’s overall saturation. Based on its tone, each gem is graded between 2 and 8 on the tone scale (wherein 1 means ‘colorless’ and 10 means ‘black’). As with the previous point, the darker the jewel, the higher the grade. And while gemstones with an 8 grade are undoubtedly the best of the lot, we consider any jewel with a 6 and above rating worth the buy.
• Pleochroism
Gems that possess this feature appear to have different colors when viewed from different angles. But keep in mind that tanzanites with a strong blue hue are usually considered more valuable than those with violet or purple as their dominant color.
• Gemstone Cut
This might seem like an insignificant aspect when talking about the color of a tanzanite, but it’s quite the contrary. While there are many options available, we recommend oval and cushion as they effortlessly bring out the color and brilliance of this gem.
Why Should You Pick Tanzanite Based on the Gemstone Grade?
At the end of the day, picking the right tanzanite can be difficult, especially if you’re new to the world of fine jewelry. A great way to circumvent this issue is to look at the grade of the stone rather than each individual aspect.
Generally speaking, a tanzanite can be placed into one of four grades based on its 4Cs (cut, color, carat and clarity). The same are as follows:
- Heirloom (AAAA): As indicated by its name, the stones present within this category belong to the top 1% of tanzanites present in the world. They feature a distinct ‘eye-clean’ property. This essentially means that the jewel does not display any visible flaws. In terms of color, they feature a deeply saturated violetish-blue hue.
- Best (AAA): Believe it or not, only 10% of the world’s supply of tanzanites belongs to this category. Similar to the previous category, these jewels are also ‘eye-clean’ and are generally characterized by their intense blue color and purplish tint.
- Better (AA): These medium violet-blue beauties constitute about 33% of the world’s entire tanzanite production. Unlike the previous two categories, several small inclusions can be found on and within these stones.
- Good (A): This includes the top 75% of the available tanzanites. They display a light violet-blue hue and have slight to moderate inclusions.
Buying Tips
Due to tanzanite’s extreme popularity, several fake gems are being sold in the market today.
To avoid getting duped, we highly suggest following the precautionary tips mentioned below:
• Research the Seller
Since you can’t see the piece in person before purchasing it online, it is extremely important that you double-check the authenticity of the seller.
The best way to do this is by browsing the company’s website and reading all their uploaded certificates. You can even check their score on different customer rating websites like Bizrate, for example. Apart from this, we also recommend going through all the comments featured under their social media posts for real and unfiltered reviews.
Not only will this process help you determine the legitimacy of the organization but it will also give you important information regarding the company’s customer service, the durability of their accessories, etc.
• Read the Return Policy
This is arguably one of our most important tips.
At the end of the day, the best way to conclusively determine the authenticity of a gem is to get it checked by your local jeweler. Therefore, remember to check if the company has a clear return policy. It should enable you to either return or exchange the gemstone if it defers in any way from what is shown or claimed online.
• Opt for a GIA Gemstone
One of the premier gemstone organizations in the world, the GIA (Gemological Institute of America) works hard to protect jewelry lovers and collectors alike from imitation pieces. By picking a GIA-certified tanzanite jewelry, you can rest assured knowing that all the details mentioned in the certificate are 100% genuine.
It’s a fact that the intense bluish-violet color that you should be looking out for in a tanzanite usually appears in stones that weigh more than five carats. But irrespective of what carat size you plan to buy, it is essential to only pick the highest-quality grade available for the same. This will ensure you get to make the most of tanzanite and its splendid color.
