Tanzanite Engagement Rings

Tanzanite engagement rings are becoming really popular. It may have something to do with Tiffany's who proclaimed the once-named blue zoisite an exceptional gemstone and renamed it tanzanite soon after it was discovered in the 60s. Once a brand like Tiffany & Co. comes on board you know you have a winner!

It's only found in one part of the world, mostly near Mount Kilimanjaro in Tanzania which is where the name comes from.

Tanzanite Engagement Rings We Love!

Tanzanites come in just about every shape these days. From ovals to princess cut, emerald cuts, trillions, and everything in between.

Rings Courtesy of Gemvara

Choosing the shape of stone is really about personal preference...And so is the color of the metal. As you can see, it works equally well with white gold, platinum, yellow gold and even rose gold—it's all about personal style.

Light has an interesting effect on tanzanite. It is extremely light sensitive which means it will look different under different light and incandescent light will often bring out the violet undertones.

Tanzanite Engagement Ring Settings

Because the stone itself is not as hard as some of the others, we always recommend you look for a setting that protects the stone by covering any exposed corners with a metal prong or some form of bezel, or by framing it with a surround of metal or other gemstones, likes diamonds.

It's the best way to prevent any nicks and scratches and generally protect the stone from damage.

Tanzanite: Gemstone Specifications & Color

The recent interest in tanzanite engagement rings may be part of the trend away from traditional diamond rings. Colored gemstones are becoming increasingly popular and tanzanite, December's birthstone, is no exception. Its qualities make it an ideal choice for those looking for something different.

In its natural form it's somewhat reddish brown, finished stones like the ones you see in most pieces of jewelry are almost always heat treated in a gemological oven to bring out the desirable blue shades.

The heat treatment eliminates the red hues and brings out that magical blue with violet/purple undertones that makes the gemstone so special.

Tanzanite is considered by many to be the most beautiful of all the blue gemstones. Even a sapphire doesn't quite compete with its intense magical quality. Sapphire engagement rings are more popular but that's because sapphires are better known.

Another reason some choose a sapphire over a tanzanite is because of its hardness of 6.5 to 7 on the Mohs scale. This means that a little more care needs to be given to tanzanite rings because they can chip more easily.

Part of the cachet of tanzanite engagement rings is its exclusivity. Since tanzanite only comes from one part of the world it is considered to be one of the rarer gemstones and that appeals to all of us who like to have things that most people don't have.