It’s an unfortunate truth that December birthdays often get overlooked during the chaos of the holidays. In three years of writing about birthstones, I’ve never once covered December’s primary stone, tanzanite. But don’t worry… that all changes today!
Tanzanite is a fascinating stone that ranges from a light periwinkle color to deep, saturated blue. Until quite recently, I was only able to offer it in mid-sized gold jewelry. Now, however, I can source a range of tanzanite across all my jewelry lines, making this the perfect time to talk tanzanite!
The Basics
Tanzanite has a Mohs hardness scale of between 6 and 7, which means it works well in both faceted and cabochon styles. Because there is currently no lab-grown option for tanzanite, large pieces with good cut, color, and clarity can be elusive. Fortunately, there are options!
Generally speaking, very high-quality tanzanite is often found in smaller, faceted stones, while larger cabochon and rose-cut versions display more interesting textures with inclusions and color variations. Smaller pieces also tend toward the periwinkle color, which allows more light to pass through, while larger cuts display deeper blue tones.
Tanzanite in Fine Jewelry
For a long time, I exclusively utilized tanzanite in my gold jewelry, and I still love using it this way. The purple-blue or gray-blue stones offer a lovely contrast when stacked with deeper blue sapphire. I adore pairing blue stones with yellow gold to make them really pop.
A few of my favorite pieces that I’ve made with tanzanite include the Lilipads by the Pond in yellow gold, the Sunbeam in rose gold, and the Sandy Breeze Triple Gem. I can source a medium-sized tanzanite stone for any of my statement rings or a petite tanzanite stone for any of my Graceful Glimmer necklaces or bangles, so reach out if you’d like to build a tanzanite piece!
Tanzanite Ripple Rings
For years, people have asked me if tanzanite was available in my silver jewelry, and I can finally say yes! Thanks to one of my favorite gem suppliers, I now have access to incredibly funky and cool bubble-cut and rose-cut tanzanite stones. These examples are all one-of-a-kind stones with lots of interesting textures, inclusions, and variations. Because each one is different, I’ve been incorporating them into my KBCE-style Ripple Rings, one-of-a-kind rings built specifically to fit an individual stone. When they’re gone, they’re gone… so don’t wait!
Getting Creative with Tanzanite
Large tanzanite stones are perfect for my new line of one-of-a-kind designs, such as the Nova Necklace, Dandelion Double, and Tidal Trio Rings. Like the Ripple Rings, these designs are built to showcase a specific stone. The best way to shop for these designs is by scheduling a personal shopping appointment. You can also find examples across my galleries. As always, reach out for more information!
Tanzanite is a fascinating stone that can be used in both the finest examples of heirloom-quality jewelry and fresh, funky everyday pieces. I’m thrilled to offer this stone in a wide variety of styles and designs, a perfect fit for every personality. And remember… if you missed a December birthday, go ahead and celebrate in January. Better late than never!
P.S. Interested in December’s alternative birthstone? Learn about turquoise here!
