WHY IS TANZANITE SO POPULAR?

With brilliant hues of blue, violet and purple, a tanzanite is a worthy rival to the blue sapphire, especially when it comes the gemstone’s exquisite beauty.

Tanzanite is extraordinarily rare, a thousand times rarer than a diamond. Its formation in a very small area of the foothills of Mount Kilimanjaro in northern Tanzania is regarded as a unique geological phenomenon, and experts say that the chances of finding this blue-violet form of zoisite anywhere else on Earth is one in a million.

Tanzanite was discovered in 1967, and named after its country of exclusive origin, Tanzania, a year later.

In the world of gems, it’s the latest addition but it has quickly become sought-after, especially by tourists who want a tanzanite experience as part of their African travels. “In recent years, Cape Town tour guides and operators have become increasingly aware of their clients’ interest in loose tanzanite and tanzanite jewellery,” says Yair Shimansky, the creator of the iconic Shimansky jewellery brand. “There’s no doubt that the irresistible combination of beauty and rarity ignites an enduring, worldwide interest in tanzanite.”

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WHY TOURISTS WANT TO INVEST IN TANZANITE JEWELLERY AND TANZANITE GEMSTONES

Tanzanite is often described as a ‘one-generation gem’ because it is likely that its discovery and its extinction will occur within the life-span of its first-time owner generation.

The tanzanite mining site is just about 4 km long. With so little chance of finding tanzanite anywhere else, there is currently excellent investment potential in loose tanzanite and tanzanite jewellery. While still widely affordable at this time, every year, tanzanite increases in value. Industry experts predict that as the sole mining area becomes more and more depleted, prices will accordingly escalate more and more rapidly. The likely extinction of tanzanite in the next couple of decades will catapult the gem into the highest value stakes.

As Shimansky says: “The time is sure to come when there will be no more first-time owners; and tanzanite rings, necklaces and bracelets will become even more precious family heirlooms to pass down to future generations. If you love the deep-blue fires of this incredible African gem, it makes good sense now to become a part of tanzanite’s special ‘one generation’.”

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THE ADVANTAGES OF BUYING TANZANITE JEWELLERY IN SOUTH AFRICA

When it comes to working with tanzanite, not every jeweller can work successfully with the gemstone. It requires high levels of expertise and experience to cut and polish a tanzanite and awaken their true brilliance. It takes even higher levels of skills and artistry to design and create tanzanite jewellery pieces that will stand the test of time. The reason for this is that on the Moh’s Scale of Hardness, tanzanite is relatively soft with a hardness of only 6.5 to 7. This is much softer than a diamond, which has a hardness of 10. Shimansky explains that their experienced cutters take great care in planning each and every gemstone’s cut and polish. “Tanzanite has incredible potential, and to maximise its beauty and reveal its brilliance, a gemstone must be thoroughly examined before deciding on the cut that will best suit it.”

At the Shimansky state-of-the art jewellery workshops, latest technology and controlled conditions are set out to cater for Africa’s unique and beautiful gem. Shimansky jewellery designers and creators bring their years of experience and world-class expertise to each signature piece of tanzanite jewellery. “With such a limited, dwindling source of tanzanite, every gem counts; and our jewellers are dedicated to creating a beloved icon in each piece of tanzanite jewellery,” says Shimansky.

THE BEST TANZANITE EXPERIENCES IN CAPE TOWN

Cape Town’s tour guides and operators have a vested interest in ensuring that tourists who are interested in a tanzanite experience encounter the best the Mother City has to offer. The Shimansky brand focuses on integrity and quality throughout the value chain. Only finest quality tanzanite, responsibly sourced directly from the mines in Tanzania, is used in the creation of the Shimansky Queen of Ayanda Tanzanite Jewellery Collection. Each tanzanite is certified according to the Tanzanite International Grading Standard.

Shimansky’s exquisite array of tanzanite rings, earrings and pendants features classic, yet contemporary designs and settings that also include diamonds. At Shimansky’s showrooms at the V&A Waterfront, The Clock Tower and The Rockwell Hotel in Green Point, your guests can also select a perfect loose tanzanite gemstone and co-create a precious tanzanite creation with a master Shimansky jeweller, which will be delivered to them within 48 hours.

To book Cape Town’s ultimate tanzanite experience at a Shimansky showroom, email: tours@shimansky.com or contact us on: 021 421 2788

We also welcome you to book a site visit at any of our Diamond & Tanzanite Destinations to see first-hand what your visitors can expect when visiting Shimansky.