Tanzanite
From the awe-inspiring grandeur of Mt. Kilimanjaro, in Africa comes the discovery of a century, a gem so precious, so rare that it is found exclusively in a tiny area of Tanzania: tanzanite. Discovered in the late 1960s, tanzanite is the official December birthstone of the AGS.
Tanzanite displays a rich, violet-blue colour, for which the stone is treasured. Tanzanite can be less expensive than sapphire and has historically been purchased as an alternative. Today, tanzanite's increase in popularity has created its own market, and it is rightly appreciated for its beauty and brilliance. There have been wide fluctuations in the gem's supply and price level, due mostly to Tanzania's volatile political, economic and social conditions.
Tanzanite is heat-treated to achieve its colour. It is carefully mined to avoid damage to the precious limited supply available. Colours range from blue to purple, but one of the most highly valuable tanzanite is medium dark in tone, vivid in saturation.