Tanzanite is a relatively new mineral in the gemstone galaxy. In 1967, a Masai tribe came across a cluster of highly transparent, intensely purple and blue crystals protruding straight out of the ground in Merelani, northern Tanzania. Initially, it was thought that the discovery marked a new deposit of sapphires. However, it soon turned out to be a new mineral!
Like other gemstones, tanzanites with vibrant, deep colours are in high demand among traders.
However, it is not common knowledge that the violet-blue colour is the result of geological processes involving high temperatures. So what is the true colour of tanzanite, which took thousands of years to form at a relatively constant temperature?
The answer lies in the ring below. In it, I have juxtaposed two pear-cut tanzanites. Having contrasting colours, each gem tells its own story of formation. The composition has been completed using other precious stones from the African region: green tsavorite, mined in the same region as tanzanite; blue and orange sapphire; and ruby. This symphony of colours breaks up the ring's bold shape and creates a geometrical spectacle of modern lines and symmetry.
