What is Tanzanite
The alluring deep blues of tanzanite stones have captivated the world for several years. These stones are found only in Tanzania, which is how they got their name.
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Tanzanite gemstones are a member of the epidote mineral group. Like almost every other gemstone, tanzanite ranges in colour from deep blues to violet, and each hue is spectacular in its own right.
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While perhaps not as popular as diamonds, tanzanite gemstones are roughly 1,000 times rarer.
These gems are found only deep in the foothills of Mount Kilimanjaro. This has made them one of the most intriguing and coveted jewels for collectors.
Essentially, tanzanite is a variety of the mineral zoisite. Tanzanite gemstones are the most famous zoisite stones. They get their colour from the presence of vanadium during their formation. These rare gems are one of the most popular blue stones, second only to blue sapphires.
What Is Amethyst
Amethyst is the flag bearer for the Quartz family of gemstones, which also includes Citrine and Prasiolite.
The gem perfectly showcases all that this mineral has to offer, across a variety of hues from delicate light pinks to deep dark purples. Known for having eye clean clarity in many specimens and for being readily available in generous carat weights, Amethyst remains one of the most popular gemstones on the market.
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Amethyst is the name given to purple Quartz and some believe that its name derives from the Greek word ‘Amethustos’, ‘a’ meaning ‘not’ and ‘methustos’ meaning ‘to intoxicate’. In ancient times, wealthy lords who wanted to stay sober were said to have had drinking glasses or goblets made from Amethyst. While pouring wine for their guests they could serve themselves water, as the dark purple hue of the gem would disguise the color of the drink so it looked like wine, thus allowing the lord appear to be partaking in a tipple!
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Amethyst is the birthstone of February, and is the official gemstone for Wednesday. It is also the official gemstone for the 6th and 17th wedding anniversaries, and features a trigonal crystal system. Amethyst occurs in many shades, from a light, slightly lavender pinkish to a deep purple similar to that of the Cabernet Sauvignon grape.
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Amethyst can also be slightly pleochroic, which means that when light hits the gem, shades of different colours such as reds and blues can be seen from different angles. The color comes from iron impurities within the stone, without which it would be colorless. The amount of iron within each stone determines how deep the colour is.