Tanzanite Engagement Rings
&
Wedding Bands
Tanzanite engagement rings hold a gemstone that is valued for its rarity, breathtaking color and intense depth. While tanzanite is much rarer than a diamond, tanzanite is also quite affordable – although it is steadily increasing in value.
To find out if this beautiful twilight colored gem may be the perfect gem for your engagement ring, check out the info below to find out more about tanzanite physical properties, special care, price and value, meaning and tanzanite wedding ring shopping tips.
Tanzanite Properties:Durability = Good
Hardness = 6.5 – 7.0
Refractive Index = 1.69 – 1.70
Specific Gravity = 3.10 – 3.38 With a Mohs hardness rating of 6.5 to 7.0, tanzanite is an appropriate gem for engagement and wedding rings, but it does require special care (see special care below). Tanzanite is slightly lighter than a diamond and has a refractive index (light reflective quality) similar to a sapphire. Tanzanite has only been found in Tanzania, at the base of Mt. Kilimanjaro, and is one of the most recently discovered gems (1969). Tanzanite exhibits a rare color characteristic known as trichroism, which means under different types of light it will exhibit alternating flashes of color. Blue/purple tanzanite flashes dark blue, violet and sometimes red or deep bourbon colors. Meaning of Tanzanite: This unique gemstone is believed to imbue wearers with gifts of eternal truth, honesty and knowledge of higher spiritual love and light. As the last gemstone added to the official list of birthstones, tanzanite is now the modern birthstone for the month of December.
Tanzanite Gemstone Enhancements: Almost all tanzanite sold is heat treated to bring out the exceptional blue and purple twilight gemstone colors. Because of its lower hardness rating, tanzanite must be cut and polished before it can be heated. The heat treatments do no effect the quality or strength of the stone, nor the value. Heat treatment is the only acceptable enhancement for tanzanite gemstones at this time. Tanzanite gemstones treated with an artificial coating have been discovered by gemological laboratories during their gemological assessments. The coating is not an acceptable form of treatment as it is used to temporary camouflage gemstones which have poor color characteristics – and shoppers need to beware of coated tanzanite gems. Special Care for Tanzanite Engagement Rings: Tanzanite engagement rings should never be cleaned in an ultrasonic cleaner. Instead, it is best to clean the rings with warm soapy water and a soft cloth or take the ring in for a professional clean and buff at a local jewelers.
Rings make with tanzanite should never be exposed to hard knocks or any kind of abrasive. To keep tanzanite gems from becoming scratched or damaged, remove rings before any type of activities – such as cleaning, gardening etc. – which could expose the ring to chemicals or abrasions. Tanzanite Price Guide: The price of tanzanite is continually increasing, but for now an average price for a one carat tanzanite gemstone is around $1200 dollars. Smaller carat gemstones or tanzanite engagement rings made with multiple smaller tanzanite gems are available for less than $1000 dollars. The value of tanzanite increases substantially over one carat in size. As most tanzanite found is eye clean, any type of blemish or inclusion will drastically affect the value of the gemstone. A quality cut tanzanite is valued much higher than a standard machine cut gem, and tanzanite gemstones which exhibit deep blue and purple tones are more highly valued than stones which exhibit lighter colors or flashes of light brown or yellow. Shopping Tips for Tanzanite Engagement Rings: The best metal to use for a tanzanite engagement rings is platinum, followed by white gold. Platinum is one of the most durable wedding ring metals and platinum’s color is extremely complimentary to tanzanite gemstones. White gold also looks quite flattering paired with tanzanite gemstones, but couples will need to decide if they want to commit to replating the rhodium on a regular basis (necessary to maintain the white color of white gold). While silver looks beautiful next to tanzanite, it is not recommended for tanzanite rings because tanzanite needs strong metals to protect it through years of daily wear.
Due to tanzanite’s lower hardness rating, engagement ring styles which include protective stone settings are best. Closed settings, like channel, bezel and pave settings will protect a tanzanite gem the most. Prong settings can be used as well, but no sharp edges of the gemstone should be exposed – for example, a four prong setting can be used on a square cut tanzanite as long as each prong completely covers each corner. Gemstone tanzanite shapes which hold up the longest to long term wear have rounded edges, like the oval, pear or heart shaped tanzanite gems. Cornered gem shapes and cuts – for example, emerald cut tanzanite - will be fine for engagement and wedding rings too as long as the gemstone is set properly.
Fake tanzanite, made of colored glass or colored cubic zirconia, has been sold as real tanzanite. To be sure that you are buying authentic quality tanzanite engagement rings, keep the average price of a one carat tanzanite in mind (approximately $1200 for the gem alone) – if you see a large tanzanite gemstone ring for sale, for less than $1000 dollars, the ring is probably made with a fake tanzanite. Also, fake tanzanite will not exhibit the dramatic color change characteristics of real tanzanite. Instead of flashing different shades of purple and blue, fake gems will normally only show flashes of one color (usually dark blue) and white. Last but not least, always shop at a reputable jewelry boutique which offers a no-nonsense refund policy. If you have any doubts about the value of your ring and gemstone, send the ring to a gemological laboratory (such as the American Gemstone Laboratories or the Gemological Institute of America or the International Gemological Institute) for a professional assessment.
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