Yes and no. In recent years, gem smuggling, the pandemic, and a rise in worldwide demand have all played an ongoing role in tanzanite's value. This has caused prices of tanzanite to drop roughly 20%-30%.
Increasing Value
While the cut, color, and clarity of the stone will also influence its worth, investment grade Tanzanite has currently been estimated at around $600 to $1500 for stones ranging up to 10 carats. Prices are sure to increase as the mines run out.
Found solely in the foothills of Mount Kilimanjaro, the Tanzanite mines are expected to run out in the next decades making it a collectible asset that will continue to gain value over time. Top-grade fine Tanzanites are becoming increasingly rare, thus their value is highly interlinked with rarity.
Total reserves of tanzanite are estimated at 109,000,000 carats (21,800 kg; 48,100 lb), according to a report published in 2018. Block C, by far the largest site, has been estimated at 87,100,000 carats (17,400 kg; 38,400 lb) with a Life of Mine (LOM) expected to last until the 2040s.
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).
The supply of tanzanite is finite. Geologists estimate that the source will be depleted in a decade or so.
Carat Weight - Tanzanite Prices Per Carat (Updated July 2023) Due to the worldwide pandemic a couple years ago, this caused reduced travel, prices for Tanzanite are still down about 20-30%.
Tanzanite is a recipient of various titles like, “the most beautiful blue gem” and “the most important gem discovery in 2000 years.” It's therefore no surprise that this beaming bluish-violet gem is highly sought-after. However, due to traditional classification, tanzanite still falls under the semi-precious category.
The other blocks are occupied and exploited by an assortment of medium and small, independent, and artisanal miners. With little in the way of capital investments or even general overhead, these miners are able to flood the market with cheap gemstones and depress the overall price for tanzanite.
official suspends Tanzanite One's operations; says mine not benefiting locals & workers unpaid for 22 months. The Tanzanian government has directed to stop mining activities at Tanzanite One Mining Limited (TML), the world's biggest miner and supplier of Tanzanite.
For some wearers, tanzanite may cause lethargy, which makes sense considering all the life-changing revelations you may experience. A side effect of the healing process is that tanzanite can bring up repressed feelings, emotions, and memories that the wearer might not be ready for.
However, everyone can wear this stone. It cannot be associated with one particular planet. It has no negative effects. This gem has not been given too much of astrological importance, but its utility can be seen in beauty and medical benefits.
Tanzanites are known for being doubly refractive. To check this, view the stone through a dichroscope. You should see two windows when you do this. If each window holds a different color, it means that your stone is doubly refractive and is probably authentic.
And last, but not least, Sapphire are generally more expensive than Tanzanite, especially in larger sizes. This is due to the rarity vs demand, though Tanzanite, being found in just one area of the world, could easily become much more valuable in the future.
Cooler toned metals such as silver, platinum or white gold create a dramatic and icy look, magnificently contrasting against tanzanite's blue shades to enhance its color. Yellow or rose gold will elevate your tanzanite centerpiece with their warmth, revealing more purple and red colors within the stone.
Saturation refers to the intensity of depth if color of the gemstone. Once the color is established, the saturation grade is given based upon how strong the color is refracting. For Tanzanite, a grade of 6 would be ideal.
The deeper the colour, the more valuable the gemstone, and has been established that consumers naturally gravitate towards gemstones of deeper colours. Tanzanite gemstones of intense colour are more valuable because they occur much more rarely in nature.
In general, the more saturated the color of tanzanite is, the more valuable it becomes, as the demand for the deep royal blues is high. Too much saturation, however, and tanzanite can become too dark, especially in a larger gem.
Tanzanite is available in blue, purple or violet-blue. The most sought after color are intense blues. Any colors outside this range are less valuable and not as rare and the deep colored purple and blue Tanzanite gemstones.
Cubic Zirconia, Synthetic Spinel, Yttrium Aluminum Garnet (YAG), and Glass. These imitations have also been widely used as counterfeit Tanzanite and can usually be easily distinguished as they are all singly refractive while Tanzanite is doubly refractive.
The 'Trilliant Cut' is a triangular-shaped cut with slightly rounded edges. Its facets may vary from 31 to 43, giving it its famous brilliance and emphasizing the rich blue color of the Tanzanite. Its symmetrical shape and angles make the 'Trilliant Cut' a perfect choice for sophisticated jewelry.
From the durability point of view, sapphire is clearly the winner. Tanzanite, on the other hand, needs more care because it isn't as tough and also has the 'gemstone cleavage'.
Rarity. Tanzanite is listed among some of the rarest and most desirable gemstones in the world. The once-in-a-lifetime conditions of its creation make it incredibly scarce. Found only at the foothills of Mount Kilimanjaro, this gemstone is often referred to as 'The gem of a generation' due to its depleting supply.
When worn, pendants are much more protected than rings, so Tanzanites are fine to wear every day as a pendent. I'd still recommend removing them before sports or swimming, or showering. On a personal note, I've worn Tanzanite jewellery out on many occasions, but treat it more like event/cocktail jewellery.
Each tanzanite is sourced ethically and under safe working conditions. Today, this precious gem creates income for a lot of people in Tanzania and has a significant impact on the economy. The purchase of each tanzanite helps contribute to the day-to-day lives of the Tanzanian people.