Tanzanite Prices

<h1>Tanzanite Prices</h1>Author: <a title="GemSelect" href="http://www.articlesbase.com/authors/gemselect/151868.htm">GemSelect</a> It is very unusual when a recently discovered gemstone has a huge impact on the world gemstone market. It happened with paraiba tourmaline in the 1990's. But the case of tanzanite in the 1960's is even more intriguing. Tanzanite, a rare violet-blue form of the mineral zoisite, was first discovered in 1967 in Tanzania. East Africa remains the only source for tanzanite and the supply is extremely limited. The limited supply, combined with soaring demand, has resulting in rising prices. The immense popularity of tanzanite is surprising. Originally the gem was known by the more pedestrian name, "blue zoisite." But even that name was a bit of a stretch, since tanzanite is rarely blue in nature. In its natural state, it is a rather uninspiring brown, and the violet blue is produced through heat treatment. It is not a particularly hard-wearing gem either. At 6.5 on the Mohs hardness scale and with delicate cleavage, it is less durable than common quartz. How did such a gem come to sell for prices up to $1000 a carat? The answer is marketing. Tanzanite got its first big push into the market with the help of Tiffany & Co., who gave it the new name "tanzanite" and mounted a major advertising campaign in 1969. Tiffany showed little restraint in hyping tanzanite. Henry Platt, the grandson of Louis Comfort Tiffany, described tanzanite as "the most beautiful blue stone to be discovered in over 2000 years." Though <a href="http://www.gemselect.com/other-info/tanzanite-discovery.php" target="_new">tanzanite</a> is a very pretty stone, it is fair to say that it has suffered from marketing excess more than any other gem. Effusive ad copy informs us that tanzanite was "formed more than 585 million years ago." But of course all minerals are millions of years old. Tanzanite, we are told, is 1000 times rarer than diamond. But since diamond is hardly rare, we could say the same about tsavorite garnet and zircon and a number of other gems. The successful marketing of tanzanite combined with limited supply to create astonishing prices for the gem in the market. For those who love colored gemstones, <a href="http://www.gemselect.com/other-info/about-tanzanite.php" target="_new">fine tanzanite</a> certainly has its place. Predictions are that the mines in northern Tanzania will be worked out within 15 years, so it is certainly worth buying if you can find it a reasonable price (under $500 a carat). But buy tanzanite on its own merits and ignore the marketing hype.About the Author: GemSelect is a leading online dealer in fine gemstones, specializing in sapphire, spinel, tourmaline, tanzanite, topaz and zircon. <a href="http://www.gemselect.com/other-info/gems-for-sale.php">Fine Precious and Semi-Precious Gemstones</a>

Article Source: <a href="http://www.articlesbase.com/">ArticlesBase.com</a> - <a href="http://www.articlesbase.com/jewelry-articles/tanzanite-prices-976567.html" title="Tanzanite Prices">Tanzanite Prices</a>

It is very unusual when a recently discovered gemstone has a huge impact on the world gemstone market. It happened with paraiba tourmaline in the 1990's. But the case of tanzanite in the 1960's is even more intriguing.

Tanzanite, a rare violet-blue form of the mineral zoisite, was first discovered in 1967 in Tanzania. East Africa remains the only source for tanzanite and the supply is extremely limited. The limited supply, combined with soaring demand, has resulting in rising prices.

The immense popularity of tanzanite is surprising. Originally the gem was known by the more pedestrian name, "blue zoisite." But even that name was a bit of a stretch, since tanzanite is rarely blue in nature. In its natural state, it is a rather uninspiring brown, and the violet blue is produced through heat treatment. It is not a particularly hard-wearing gem either. At 6.5 on the Mohs hardness scale and with delicate cleavage, it is less durable than common quartz. How did such a gem come to sell for prices up to $1000 a carat?

The answer is marketing. Tanzanite got its first big push into the market with the help of Tiffany & Co., who gave it the new name "tanzanite" and mounted a major advertising campaign in 1969. Tiffany showed little restraint in hyping tanzanite. Henry Platt, the grandson of Louis Comfort Tiffany, described tanzanite as "the most beautiful blue stone to be discovered in over 2000 years."

Though tanzanite is a very pretty stone, it is fair to say that it has suffered from marketing excess more than any other gem. Effusive ad copy informs us that tanzanite was "formed more than 585 million years ago." But of course all minerals are millions of years old. Tanzanite, we are told, is 1000 times rarer than diamond. But since diamond is hardly rare, we could say the same about tsavorite garnet and zircon and a number of other gems.

The successful marketing of tanzanite combined with limited supply to create astonishing prices for the gem in the market. For those who love colored gemstones, fine tanzanite certainly has its place. Predictions are that the mines in northern Tanzania will be worked out within 15 years, so it is certainly worth buying if you can find it a reasonable price (under $500 a carat). But buy tanzanite on its own merits and ignore the marketing hype.

GemSelect is a leading online dealer in fine gemstones, specializing in sapphire, spinel, tourmaline, tanzanite, topaz and zircon. Fine Precious and Semi-Precious Gemstones

Rate this Article:

0 / 5 stars - 0 vote(s)

Re-Publish

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/jewelry-articles/tanzanite-prices-976567.html

Article Tags: tanzanite, tanzanite gems, tanzanite gemstones, tanzanite stones, blue tanzanite, violet tanzanite, blue zoisite

Related Articles
Related Q&A

Latest Jewelry Articles
More from GemSelect

Diamond Earrings- How to Save Money and Avoid Scams

By: whitefleur | 11/12/2009
If you are looking for affordable diamond earring then it is quite possible that you can get distracted with deals and scams hence you must do some research and you must consider the 4C’S of diamond. By considering the color, carat, clarity and cut of diamond you can avoid scams and can save money

Getting Big Money With Gold 4 Cash

By: Jthomas | 11/12/2009
There are many times when we do not know which bill to pay before they become late. Sometimes there is a choice of losing the cable or phone line if you do not pay.

Sell Diamonds for getting rid of your financial crises

By: Jthomas | 11/12/2009
Diamonds are better investment option as compared to gold, silver or any other precious metal. It also gives better returns than any other metal or precious stone.

Is This The Best Time To Sell Silver?

By: Jthomas | 11/12/2009
In times of economic adversity and recession, some of the investors look for safer ways of protecting the assets.

Three Most Widespread Wedding Bands

By: Shaun Whitley | 11/12/2009
There are various sorts of wedding bands obtainable in the market these days. In most of the cases you've got to build your mind up on shopping for/ buying the identical keeping in mind the depth of your pocket. Your wedding band is invaluable, to say the least and thus you'd undoubtedly need your wedding band to last forever. You have a plethora of decisions to satiate your needs and desire. Diamond Wedding bands: In case you'll be able to afford a Diamond wedding band (if you and...

Three Most Widespread Wedding Bands

Silver Chains to Look for These Holidays to Come

By: Sim Capillo | 11/12/2009
Silver chains make a perfect gift for occasions and holidays such Christmas, Valentines, Birthdays, Anniversaries, Weddings and Christening. They make perfect electrifying look to your outfit once it suits. To add a personal touch to your gift, you can opt for a personalized silver chain. This could be an ideal gift for your wife or husband, friends and special someone.

Jewellery for a jewel of your life this Christmas

By: adonis | 10/12/2009
Finding unique and feminine gifts can sometimes puzzle the most of men.

Ancient Turquoise Gemstones

By: GemSelect | 17/06/2009 | Jewelry
For many Americans, turquoise seems a distinctively American gemstone -- mined in Arizona, New Mexico, Colorado and Nevada, and with a long history in native American jewelry. But turquoise has been an important gemstone in many eastern cultures for thousands of years.

Lapis Lazuli from Afghanistan

By: GemSelect | 17/06/2009 | Jewelry
There are few gemstones with as long and romantic a history as lapis lazuli. Though found in several locations around the world, the finest lapis comes from the Badakhshan province of northern Afghanistan, where it has been mined continuously for over 6,000 years.

Star Sapphire Gemstones

By: GemSelect | 17/06/2009 | Jewelry
Asterism or the star effect is an example of an optical effect found very rarely in a small number of gem types cut as cabochons. The most famous examples are star sapphire and star ruby. But asterism may also be exhibited by moonstone, quartz, spinel, citrine, diopside, emerald, garnet and chrysoberyl.

Chrome Diopside Gems

By: GemSelect | 17/06/2009 | Jewelry
Fine green gemstones are rare and expensive. At one time, emerald was the only choice. Then tsavorite garnet came on the market in the 1970's, followed by chrome tourmaline. Both soon became as rare and expensive as emerald. But the situation began to change with the introduction of chrome diopside in 1989.

Tanzanite Prices

By: GemSelect | 17/06/2009 | Jewelry
Tanzanite, a rare violet-blue form of the mineral zoisite, was first discovered in 1967 in Tanzania. East Africa remains the only source for tanzanite and the supply is extremely limited. The limited supply, combined with soaring demand, has resulting in rising prices. Is Tanzanite worth it?

Natural Sphene: More Fire than Diamond

By: GemSelect | 15/06/2009 | Jewelry
When you hold a gemstone and turn it in the light, some gems will display flashes of color, which is the result of the dispersion of white light into the colors of the spectrum. Diamond is famed for this quality, but the gemstone known as sphene actually has a higher dispersion value than diamond. This is why high quality sphene typically looks multicolored in photographs.

History of Peridot Gemstones

By: GemSelect | 15/06/2009 | Jewelry
Peridot is a gemstone with a fascinating history, both in nature and culture. It is one of the oldest known gemstones, with ancient written records documenting the mining of peridot as early as 1500 B.C. It is a gem especially connected with ancient Egypt, and some historians believe that the famous emeralds of Cleopatra were actually peridots.

Pink Kunzite Gemstones

By: GemSelect | 15/06/2009 | Jewelry
Kunzite is still unknown to many gemstone buyers. But the gemstone world began to pay attention to kunzite when they learned of a 47 carat kunzite ring that President John F. Kennedy had purchased for his wife, Jacqueline. He never had the chance to give her the ring before his tragic death in 1963. The kunzite ring sold for more than $410,000 at a Sotheby's auction of the Estate of Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis in 1996.