Tanzanite Identification Information
Tanzanite, according to the Gemological Institute of America (GIA), is relatively new in the world of gemstones. The tanzanite market is flooded with fake stones, so it is important to know how to identify a tanzanite before spending your money on this expensive gemstone.
Other People Are Reading
-
Tanzanite
-
Tanzanite comes from the Merlani area, which, according to the Tanzanite Authority, is located in the east African state of Tanzania. The Massai tribe first discovered it as they were out walking, and 2 years later Tiffany and Company introduced it to the world. To begin to identify tanzanite, though, you need to know that is from the zoisite family and is trichroic.
Color
-
According to the Tazanite Authority, trichroic means that tanzanite has three layers of color. The common layers you will see are blue and purple, and you may see flashes of red, green, yellow, brown or orange, which makes this a stone that is easy to identify. Another way to identify tanzanite is to look at the stone in different types of light to see whether the color stays or disappears. Be sure you can see at least two colors, and the colors will shift under different types of light.
-
Clarity
-
Tanzanite most often has few if any visible inclusions, and therefore has a transparent quality. Look at tanzanite with a 10X loupe, which, according to the Tanzanite Authority, will allow you to see not only color, but also any defects the stone may have. Make sure the stone is clean and does not have any fingerprints or dirt on it, because these can hide color or brilliance.
Certificate of Authenticity
-
Ask your dealer about the grade of the tanzanite you are considering. If it is a real tanzanite, it should have a certificate of authenticity accompanying it stating that it is authentic, and the dealer should give you this certificate at the time of purchase.
Cost
-
When purchasing tanzanite, make sure to only deal with reputable companies. According to CW Jewelers, the blue color is the most desirable one and therefore the most expensive. In 2005, according to E Tanzanite, low-quality tanzanites were selling for as little as $100 to $200 per carat for sizes less than 1 carat. In 2010, according to the Tanzanite Authority, tanzanites of top quality are selling between $700 and $2,000 per carat. If someone offers you a tanzanite for very little, you can be sure that it is not real.
-
References
Resources
- Photo Credit tanzanite image by Julianna Olah from Fotolia.com
