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tanzanite

Four Gemstones Rarer Than Diamond

Diamonds are well known for their rarity, but did you know there are other rare gemstones? Get ready to learn some interesting facts on four gems rarer than diamond. Tanzanite Tanzanite is a stunning blue and purple variety of the mineral zoisite that is only found in one area of the world, Tanzania, a small country in East Africa. When viewed from different angles, tanzanite can display various colors like violet, green-yellow, and even brown. Though most tanzanite goes through heat treatment to produce its attractive blue hues, this treatment produces a stable color that makes this gem desirable. Tanzanite

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Tanzanite, Zircon and Turquoise – Oh my!

By Amanda L. Colborn Happy birthday December! We’re thrilled to feature three beautiful birthstones and talk a little bit about just what makes them so special. Tanzanite Discovered in the late 1960s in Tanzania, and found exclusively in this tiny area of the world, tanzanite exhibits a rich violet-blue color for which the gemstone is treasured; often it is heat-treated to achieve this color.  Colors range from blue to purple, and tanzanites that are medium dark in tone, vivid in saturation, and slightly violet blue command premium prices.  As tanzanite can be less expensive than sapphire, it often was purchased as

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