tanzanite buying - ring with 18k gold and diamondstanzanite buying - ring with 18k gold and diamonds

Tanzanite Buying Guide


Master tanzanite buying with our expert guide covering the 4 Cs, treatments, simulants, and investment tips. Learn to identify quality tanzanite gems for jewelry and collecting.

16 Minute Read

By Addison Rice, updated on

Picture holding a gemstone that captures the African sunset in its depths – shifting from deep sapphire blue to rich royal purple with every turn. This magical transformation happens only with tanzanite, one of the world’s rarest and most captivating gemstones. Found exclusively in the foothills of Mount Kilimanjaro, tanzanite’s scarcity makes it 1,000 times rarer than diamonds.

But here’s the challenge most buyers face: the tanzanite market overflows with treated stones, simulants, and overpriced specimens. Without proper knowledge, you could pay premium prices for inferior quality or fall victim to clever imitations. The difference between a wise purchase and an expensive mistake often comes down to understanding subtle details that dealers rarely share.

This modern December birthstone originates exclusively from Tanzania, its namesake country, where the world’s only known deposits exist. Although this rare variety of zoisite undergoes heat treatment to achieve its stunning hues, the resulting color remains stable. Unlike sapphire, tanzanite maintains its brilliance under artificial lighting without turning gray. Smart tanzanite buying requires understanding these fundamental characteristics before making any purchase decisions.

The gemstone’s unique properties make it particularly appealing to collectors and jewelry enthusiasts. In fact, for blue stones, only blue sapphire is more


Addison Rice

A geologist, environmental engineer and Caltech graduate, Addison’s interest in the mesmerizing and beautiful results of earth’s geological processes began in her elementary school’s environmental club. When she isn’t writing about gems and minerals, Addison spends winters studying ancient climates in Iceland and summers hiking the Colorado Rockies.

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