tanzanite

properties

Tanzanite is one of the most valuable yet little known gemstones. It is a thousand times rarer than diamond because it is only found in one place: at the foot of Kilimanjaro, near the Merenari Hills, in northern Tanzania. It is considered the "Indian diamond" due to its rarity. Tanzanite was formed 5 million years ago, but was not discovered until 1967. Its discovery is attributed to Manel D'Souza, a tailor by profession and prospector of gold and gems in his time free D'Souza is said to have obtained the tanzanite from a member of the Massai tribe, and it was initially thought to be a sapphire.

Tanzanite belongs to the Zoisites variety, a mineral of the silicate group. The light makes its color variable, from ultramarine blue to sapphire blue, the most popular and appreciated being its saturated lilac-blue tone. It is a delicate stone, as its hardness is 6.5-7 out of 10 on the Mohs scale.

You can see Jordi Rosich's tanzanite designed and crafted jewelry for Roosik&Co here