What is tanzanite, and why are they so similar in value? Here are some details about tanzanite and diamond value comparisons. You might be interested in knowing how much one costs, or if you should buy a tanzanite ring instead of a diamond. It’s a difficult question to answer, but you can make an informed decision if you know a little about diamonds.
Tanzanite is unique in that it can appear in different colors at different angles. As a result, the gemstones have varying meanings. For example, the violet tanzanite represents majesty, while the darker tanzanite signifies luxury. Darker tanzanite is more valuable than a lighter one and carries additional meaning. Therefore, it is better to buy a tanzanite ring with a darker hue because it has a higher price tag and a richer meaning.
While diamonds are the most common gemstone, tanzanite is extremely rare, and its scarcity has helped it increase in price. In fact, tanzanite is only found in a small area of Tanzania – the Merlani foothills of Mount Kilimanjaro. Consequently, the demand for tanzanite will likely increase for decades. When purchasing a tanzanite ring, keep in mind that the cost of diamonds is high.
Diamond vs. Tanzanite
Check out The Diamond Authority’s well-researched review to learn how to recognize the difference between tanzanite and diamond and their primary characteristics. According to TDA experts, theording to TDA experts, the two valuable stones appear to be radically different, with tanzcolorshaving a variety of colors ranging from blue to purple depending on how light falls on them. Some diamonds, such as pink or yellow diamonds, can be colored, but this is extremely rare.
Both gemstones look stunning when set in jewelry such as rings, necklaces, and bracelets, and they also make fantastic and one-of-a-kind gifts. However, there are several significant distinctions between diamonds and tanzanite stones that you should consider when buying a precious stone or if valuable gemstones intrigue you.
Price
The pricing of these two jewels is extremely perplexing. Diamonds are still more expensive per carat than tanzanite, and even the tanzanite bein; exercise caution when visiting a jeweler! Some may overcharge you for jewelry that incorporates one or both stones. It all relies on the jeweler’s reputation, the quality of the stones, and the setting.
Hardness
The diamond is the harder of the two gems. As a result, even diamonds with less-than-ideal colors or flaws can be used. You’ve probably seen diamond-cutting blades, which are popular among crafters. Due to their hardness, diamonds are also great abrasives.
A diamond is 58 times harder than any other mineral on the earth. Diamond crystals give birth to rubies, sapphires, and other precious stones.
Diamond is so hard that it is the only substance capable of cutting other diamonds. On the other hand, diamonds are not indestructible, and they can be shattered into numerous small pieces with just a hammer. On the other hand, Tanzanite is a soft gemstone only used for ornamental purposes.
It’s worth noting that tanzanite and diamonds are too costly to utilize in crafts. As a result, semi-precious stones or glass copies are frequently used by artisans. So, if anything claims to be made of genuine tanzanite or diamonds yet is reasonably priced, it is almost certainly a forgery.
Sparkle and Brilliance
Diamonds win out over tanzanite because they have more radiance and clarity when it comes to radiance. The cut of the gemstone, on the other hand, is critical, and a good cut can give a stone more shine and clarity than a poor cut.
The diamond triumphs once more in the fight for brilliance. This is primarily due to a diamond’s clear hue, which provides more brilliance, and Tanzanite’s brightness is harmed by its blueish tones. One of the main reasons diamonds are so much more expensive than all other gemstones is their brilliance.
What is the Difference Between the Clarity of Tanzanite and Diamond?
The clarity of gemstones gives them their allure, radiance, and appeal. A stone’s clarity determines how bright and beautiful it is. Diamond is the clear winner since it outperforms all other jewels in clarity. When compared to colorful diamonds, colorless diamonds appear to be clear. This is why most individuals use diamonds in conjunction with other gemstones such as ruby, tanzanite, and others to enhance their jewelry’s beauty and overall appearance.
Tanzanite has some clarity, but not nearly as much as a diamond. Tanzanite rings with diamonds are quite popular. The contrast of bluish tanzanite and the colorless diamond appears to be rather appealing.
What is Tanzanite’s Appearance?
Tanzanite is valued for its pristine blue or blue-violet color, comparable to sapphire. Color, after all, is what sells colorful stones, according to Harwick. As a result, better stones will have a more intense color and weigh at least 5 carats. The higher the value, the larger the stone and the more intense the hue.
Surprisingly, when tanzanite is mined, it does not retain its brilliant hue. Heat treatment is used to obtain the blue hue in up to 95% of the gems mined. The majority of tanzanite is brownish in color when it is mined. Tanzanite’s color is stable once heated to a dazzling blue, so customers don’t worry about fading.
The tanzanite color may begin to tilt toward a grey or purple hue depending on how it is cut, lowering its value. Thulite (pink) and anyolite (red/ruby) are other zoisite variants, although they can also appear in various hues like greenish or yellow.
What is the Modern Use of Tanzanite?
Like many other gems, Tanzanite has no special industrial value, but it plays a significant role in the jewelry business. There aren’t many blue stones, especially with such a vivid color, and tanzanite is the only one that doesn’t have a synthetic counterpart.
Some people believe that gemstones have spiritual or therapeutic properties. Ancient peoples undoubtedly had distinct beliefs and purposes for them. We can’t go into the history of tanzanite because it was only discovered recently.
When tanzanite first appeared on the jewelry market in 1968, it shifted Tiffany & Co.’s aesthetic from “basic gold jewelry to vibrant designs with huge stones,” according to Melanie Abrams of The New York Times. Tanzanite works best in special occasion jewelry or pieces like necklaces and earrings due to its less-lasting nature.
What Causes the Color of Tanzanite?
Small quantities of vanadium within the zoisite mineral structure give tanzanite its blue color. The oxidation state of vanadium is changed when vanadium-bearing zoisite is heated to 600 degrees Celsius for around 30 minutes, and this change causes or improves the blue color.
When compared to what is done to gems like rubies and sapphires, tanzanite’s heat treatment is quite gentle. These jewels may be heated to temperatures ranging from 1000 to 1800 degrees Celsius and kept there for days or weeks.
Almost all “tanzanite” gems sold today have a blue tint that has been created or increased by heating. A limited percentage of tanzanite on the market has a blue tint created spontaneously during metamorphism heat without any human intervention. Some gemstone and jewelry consumers hold this naturally blue, untreated tanzanite in high respect and seek it out when making a purchase.
What is the Average Size of Tanzanite Gems?
Smaller stones of Tanzanite, like all other gems, are more plentiful than larger stones. The majority of faceted tanzanites weigh less than five carats, and stones weighing fifty carats are scarce.
For professional jewelry, little stones are usually cut into standardized sizes. The most precious are those with top-grade color, which are frequently used in custom or designer jewelry.
Large stones with a great hue are complicated to come by. Collectors, museums, and investors frequently purchase these. Some of them are also utilized to create unique custom or designer jewelry.
The hue of a tanzanite diamond is influenced by its size. Because the distance that light travels through the stone affects its seen color, the larger stone will have a richer apparent color if the two stones are of similar saturation.
How to Take Care of Tanzanite?
Ultrasonic or steam cleaners should never be used to clean tanzanite engagement rings. Instead, clean the rings with warm soapy water and a soft cloth, or have them professionally cleaned and polished at a local jeweler.
Tanzanite rings should never be subjected to strong hits or abrasive materials. To prevent a tanzanite wedding ring from becoming scratched or damaged over time, take it off before doing any activity that could expose it to chemicals or abrasions, such as cleaning or gardening.
What are Some Shopping Tips of Tanzanite?
Platinum and palladium are the ideal metals for tanzanite engagement rings and wedding bands, followed by 18k yellow gold. Platinum is one of the most durable wedding ring metals, and its hue complements tanzanite gemstones beautifully. Palladium is also very long-lasting, and its stunning white-like sheen complements the color, flash, and brilliance of tanzanite beautifully.
If you’re on a budget, palladium rings are generally far less expensive than platinum – and even gold – rings. This is because palladium is such a light metal.
When combined with tanzanite, yellow gold looks stunning, and it may be utilized to make a classic and vintage-style tanzanite wedding band. (Plus, 18k yellow gold engagement rings and wedding bands last a long time, even when worn every day.)
Couples will need to determine if they want to commit to re-plating the rhodium regularly if they wish to wear white gold with tanzanite gemstones (necessary to maintain the white color of white gold). Because tanzanite should not be exposed to ultrasonic or steam cleaning, a tanzanite ring should only be plated by a jeweler familiar with this gemstone and rhodium plating techniques that do not use the traditional ultrasonic and steam cleaning techniques used in regular rhodium plating applications.
Finding a jeweler who can do the rhodium plating technique on a gemstone like a tanzanite that can’t be cleaned with ultrasonic or steam. When it comes to tanzanite rings made of light grey metals, it’s better to avoid white gold. Instead, choose palladium or platinum.
While silver appears lovely next to tanzanite, it is not suggested for tanzanite rings since the stone requires a strong metal and a good setting to safeguard it over time.
Conclusion
When these distinctions between diamond and tanzanite are considered, the diamond appears to be the clear winner in terms of value. Although the popular gemstone is more pricey, there is a good explanation. Tanzanite is softer, shinier, and lasts much longer than a diamond. Even though some experts consider tanzanite a lesser gemstone, the blue-colored stone is stunning and may make an outstanding present.
In addition to a gemstone’s price, another factor that affects the value is where it was discovered. A rough stone was discovered in 1967 on the foothills of Mount Kilimanjaro in Tanzania, and until then, it had little value to humans. It was largely unknown to the public and gemologists until the discovery of the stone in 1967. A Maasai tribesman was playing around with the stone, and Manuel de Sousa filed a mining appeal to mine the gemstone for commercial purposes.
