As far as popular blue gemstones go, tanzanite second only to blue sapphire is very well known in the Western world.
It is often termed as a semi precious gemstone which is a bit of a misnomer because a nice quality tanzanite ring with just a few carats of tanzanite as a center stone can cost in the thousands at retail.
What is most attractive about tanzanite is its deep purplish blue velevety color that looks great in combination with other accent gems as you would find in tanzanite diamond rings and tanzanite engagement rings.
The bright background of white metal and diamonds that you find in a white gold tanzanite ring is the best backdrop for the color of tanzanite.
Tanzanite’s Exotic Color
Also called blue green zoisite, (yes, it does come in green as well albeit more rarely) its deep color is a great match for sparkly diamonds of all sizes.
Yes, as you have heard, the beautiful color is the result of heat treatment that is used on the gemstone. It normally comes out of the ground in a brown color and then the purplish blue or bluish purple color is coaxed out of it by heat.
You will find it used in mens tanzanite rings since men prefer white metals and this gemstone, especially in a aaa tanzanite ring is simply to die for.
Because tanzanite is a class 3 gemstone, meaning it generally comes clean without inclusion, it typically is graded on quality based primarily on the carat weight, cut, hue, tone and color saturation.
Clarity is generally assumed to be acceptable in top grade stones that get set in a high quality tanzanite and diamond ring.
The Rise Of the Tanzanite Engagement Ring
Among tanzanite rings that are most popular among women these days is the tanzanite engagement ring.
It is basically a tanzanite gold ring or even platinum ring with a top quality tanzanite center stone usually surrounded by accent diamonds or in a three stone configuration with a matched pair of side diamonds flanking the tanzanite.
Today women are beginning to use colored stones a bit differently than from in the past. Engagement rings are one category of jewelry that was previously restricted to white diamonds and white metals for the most part.
Most young women that you see getting married would be shopping for a white diamond engagement ring. However, a small minority now prefer a colored stone as the center stone in their engagement ring.
First, there was the craze for a fancy yellow diamond as the center stone which then progressed to other diamond colors like blue, pink and then on into the earth color diamonds like champagne diamonds, cognac diamonds and brown diamonds.
Tanzanite Vs Sapphire Ruby and Emerald
This set the stage for the use of other precious colored gemstones as center stones in a diamond engagement ring.
Initially high quality sapphire, emerald and ruby were the gemstones most commonly used because they were the most well-known on this side of the world.
Then more and more women became attracted to tanzanite 15 years ago because it’s bluish purplish color was so velvety and intoxicating and could not be found in any other gemstone.
Tanzanite became the first semi precious stone to merit serious consideration for use as a center stone in an engagement ring.
Tanzanite is also a gemstone that comes in a wide range of sizes and with slight deviations to its hue with some stones exhibiting a more blue color while others showed a more purplish color. This was always a great conversation piece with any tanzanite piece of jewelry.
The debate always was whether it was more blue or more purple. This fueled the attraction for tanzanite as an actual gemstone worthy of being mounted in a woman’s engagement ring. It had character, beauty and a story.
The Best Cuts and Shapes For Tanzanite Rings
stone shapes. The beauty and versatilty of tanzanite was in the many different shapes that the rough could be cut into.
The trilliant shape became one of the most popular tanzanite shapes to be used as an engagement ring center stone. It was very different from the traditional round diamonds that most other women had.
Also, this tanzanite shape was available in sizes larger than 5 carats at a reasonable price and the gemstone was very clean to boot.
Tanzanite is a gemstone like aquamarine that generally comes clean from the ground. So women had it all in this gemstone. They had a clean, beautifully colored gemstone in an exotic color and shape that signaled a fashionable departure from the traditional norm in engagement rings.
