Featured: The Fire of Life Tanzanite Earrings from the TATTOO High Jewellery Collection. The Tanzanite studs are detachable to be worn solo.
In the world of high jewellery, some gemstones dazzle, others captivate. Tanzanite belongs to the second kind. Its blue violet glow feels like twilight held in crystal - elegant, modern, and quietly intense. Though discovered only recently, tanzanite has become one of the most sought after stones in gemstone jewellery, prized for colour, rarity, and presence.
December’s Birthstone, with a Modern Spirit
Tanzanite is one of the official December birthstones, added to the modern list in 2002 alongside turquoise and zircon. For those born in December, it feels perfectly suited to the season. Cool toned and luminous, yet layered with depth, it mirrors winter light. As a birthstone gift, it marks new beginnings and meaningful milestones with understated luxury.
Featured: The Tanzanite Medley earrings from the RHAPSODY High Jewellery Collection.
The History of Tanzanites
Tanzanite entered the gem world in the late 1960s, after blue crystals were discovered in Tanzania and identified as a rare blue violet variety of zoisite. In 1968, Tiffany and Co. introduced the stone to the international stage, giving it the name “tanzanite” and positioning it as a modern treasure with the soul of a classic. That short history is part of its charm. Tanzanite still feels like a discovery in motion.
The Science Behind Tanzanite’s Spell
Tanzanite is a blue violet variety of zoisite, coloured by trace amounts of vanadium in the crystal. What makes it exceptional is how the colour shifts in light.
Pleochroism (often described as trichroism)
Tanzanite can show different colours from different angles. Fine stones reveal vivid blue, soft violet, and subtle burgundy undertones. In daylight the blue reads cleaner, in warm evening light the violet deepens.
Colour enhancement
Most tanzanites are heat treated, a stable and widely accepted practice. This removes brownish or greenish tones and brings out the saturated blue violet hue the gem is known for. The change is permanent.
Left: Tanzanite before heat treatment; Right: Tanzanite after heat treatment. (Image source: GIA)
Rarity you can feel
Tanzanite is found in only one small region worldwide, and its supply is finite. That scarcity is a big part of its appeal. Exceptional stones grow more valuable over time, not just in price, but in meaning. A fine tanzanite already feels like a future heirloom.
Featured: The Hokusai Earrings with Unheated Tanzanites of 16.46 carats and Italian hand-carved cameo, from the ROMANCE DE L'ART NOUVEAU High Jewellery Collection. The Tanzanite studs can be worn solo.
Tanzanite in High Jewellery and Gemstone Jewellery
Tanzanite does not just sparkle, it glows. It shifts gently as you move, always returning to that serene blue violet calm.
Featured: The Twelve Blossoms Tanzanite earrings from the PORTRAITS OF PORCELAIN High Jewellery Collection.
At Simone Jewels, we are drawn to gemstones that feel personal and rare. Whether chosen as a December birthstone, a collector’s centrepiece, or the start of a bespoke design, tanzanite brings a modern kind of elegance, confident, serene, and unmistakably special.
Book a private appointment to view our Tanzanite jewellery creations at Maison Simone.
Any questions? Reach our Client Relations team at the link below:
Simone Jewels Client Relations
