Tanzanite: The December Birthstone

Are you a December born? If yes, then you’re lucky to have Tanzanite as the December birthstone. In 2002, tanzanite was the first gemstone to be added to the official list of birthstones since 1912. Tanzanite's blue-violet variety of gemstone comes from a mineral called zoisite and receives its pretty colors from the trace element vanadium.

Tanzanite received its name from Tanzania as it is the only place in the world that produces this stunning gemstone and the honor of naming this gemstone goes to Tiffany & Co. Tiffany's marketing department thought the scientific name "blue-violet zoisite" was not consumer friendly enough, and hence renamed it to - Tanzanite. A score of  6.5 out of 10 on the Mohs scale of hardness makes Tanzanite a softer gemstone comparatively but it is perfect for day-to-day use and needs to be taken care of to not get scratches.

Do you know that this stunning gemstone is not only the birthstone of December but also the 24th year anniversary gift gem too? Let’s learn more about this stunning blue-violet gem.

Pleochroism effect

Tanzanite is said to be a pleochroic gemstone. Pleochroism is the visual effect in which the gemstone appears to have multiple colors when the light hits the stone from different angles. Mostly this gemstone exhibits blue color when viewed from one direction and can also display violet or red hues or shades when viewed from a different angle. 

Treatments

Many gemstones go through different treatments to get their best colors or get their inclusions refilled. Tanzanite crystallizes as a brown crystal and is trichroic, representing three colors: brown, blue, and violet. When heated, the gem loses its brown or burgundy color component, resulting in a stronger violet-blue color and making the stone "dichroic," only reflecting blue and violet. 

Facts about Tanzanite

The world's largest tanzanite is a single crystal weighing 16,839 carats. It is known as "The Mawenzi," after Kilimanjaro's second highest peak. It was discovered in 2005.

The largest mined tanzanite that is hand carved is called ‘L’heure Bleu’

The gorgeous gemstone can be gifted on the 24th wedding anniversary "

The December birthstone is believed to symbolize dignity, love, truth, sincerity, and wisdom.

Astrological Beliefs

Astrology plays an important role for a person to choose the gemstone that will yield high & positive results. Some people associate it with Saturn, while others believe it is lucky for people born under Jupiter's sign of Pisces or Mars' sign of Aries. This stone, on the other hand, can be worn by anyone. It is not associated with a single planet and has no negative consequences. Tanzanite has never received much astrological attention, but its utility can be seen in its beauty and medical benefits. This gemstone is said to be beneficial in both mental and physical development.