Tanzanite is a violetish blue gem that is only found in commercial amounts in the African nation of Tanzania. Tiffany and Company selected the name to honour the country where it is produced.

Tanzanite is a relatively new gem, first discovered in the 1960s, whereas most other popular gems have been known and used for hundreds, if not thousands, of years. Tanzanite’s wonderful blue colour and Tiffany’s promotion quickly made it an extremely popular gem.

In the United States, tanzanite is the second most popular blue faceted gem after sapphire. It costs much less than sapphire, but is every bit as attractive – some people even prefer tanzanite over sapphire. For those reasons, tanzanite has become a lower-cost alternative to sapphire.

Tanzanite is not as durable as sapphire. Sapphire has a Mohs hardness of 9, while tanzanite has a hardness of about 6.5. Tanzanite is best used in earrings, pendants, and pins, where abrasion and impact are unlikely. If it is used in a ring, bracelet, or other impact-likely item of jewelry, a design that guards the stone should be used.