Due to its rarity, Tanzanite has continued to be more expensive and valued than Amethyst.
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.
Tanzanite, or zoisite, is known for its rich blue-purple hues. It's the second most valuable blue gemstone just behind sapphire.
Tanzanite stands among the rare gemstones with only a single source in the world. While diamonds, rubies, sapphires, and the like have been found in multiple deposits around the world.
How Rare is Amethyst? Not very rare, it is plentiful, but with all gemstones, the better the color the more rare it is.
In fact, in the Middle Ages purple sapphire was called “Oriental amethyst,” and purple quartz was known as “Occidental amethyst.” Sapphire is much harder than amethyst, with a Mohs hardness of 9, and also more durable. But purple sapphire is more expensive than amethyst too because its much more rare.
Tanzanite is a valuable gemstone because it's a rare stone. It is only found in one area of the world. The price per carat for tanzanite ranges between $100 and $800 depending on the quality.
Described as 'a geological phenomenon', tanzanite is 1,000 times more rare than diamonds. Tanzanite jewellery is extremely valuable and coveted, both for the gem's rarity, as well as its beauty.
Is Tanzanite Valuable? Yes, Tanzanite continues to be on the most valuable gemstones on the market today. This due to the scarcity of Tanzanite itself. It is only found in one area of the world making it a very rare gemstone.
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 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. Unheated Tanzanite is brown in color and doesn't get it's blue and purple colors until it is heat treated.
The top and most sought-after colour for tanzanite is vivid blue, so cutters will try to cut the gemstone in such a way as to accentuate its blue hues.
First recognized in the year 1967, the stone is rare in the terms that it is only found in one mine near Mt Kilimanjaro, in the country of Tanzania. 1,000 times rarer than a diamond, the stone is expected to be completely mined out in the next couple of decades, which further increases the rarity of the stone.
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.
They do not have the brilliance and sparkle, the clarity and variety of color shades that diamonds have. Of course, this does not make tanzanites unattractive or uninteresting. These are still very beautiful stones in just a crazy saturated blue color.
Tanzanite can fade with prolonged exposure to sunlight.
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.
Tanzanite is a relatively “soft” gemstone in comparison to say Diamond, the hardest, Sapphire or Ruby and measures 6 to 7 on the Mohs Scale. What this means is that Tanzanite can scratch over time, especially if worn on a daily basis or if worn when performing physical activity.
Octagon. The 'Octagon Cut', similar to an 'Emerald Cut', is a rectangular shape with trimmed corners. Its 53 facets are cut using a 'step-cut' method, whereby the gem is trimmed into wide flat step-like facets from all sides. This type of cut is ideal to highlight the deep natural color of Tanzanite.
Due to this unique singular event and the recent active foraging in the region, Tanzanite mines are expected to run out in the next 10 to 20 years. As our generation is the last with the opportunity to acquire first-hand Tanzanite, Tiffany & Co. has granted it the name 'The Gem of a Generation'.
Tanzanite Color, Characteristics & Value
Ranging in color from blue to violet, tanzanite is a pleochroic crystal, meaning it changes depending on the light and the direction from which it is viewed. In its original form, dark blue, brown-yellow, and red-purple can be seen in the same stone.
Gemstones have varying degrees of hardness, ranging from more fragile stones like pearl or turquoise, up to the most durable material on earth, diamond. The reason you'll often see sapphire, diamond, and moissanite as typical stones for engagement rings is because they have far greater durability than amethyst.
Since amethyst is readily available in large sizes, its value per carat climbs gradually, not exponentially. Since this stone is plentiful, there is little reason to pay top dollar for pieces with visible inclusions or inferior cutting.
The price of amethyst can range anywhere between $20 to $50 per carat, depending on various factors. It's important to note that the color is the most important feature that greatly influences the price of this gem. At With Clarity, we use AAA amethyst stones for our rings, which are eye clean and rich in color.