TANZANITE: The New Gemstone - Issue #00018 - December 24, 2010

TANZANITE: The New Gemstone December 24, 2010 - Issue #00018 Tanzanite is a precious gemstone that was only discovered in 1967 by a Maasai tribesman. Due to its relatively recent discovery , it is often referred to as the “new gemstone” although it is over 600 million years old. The gemstone is only found in a thin strip of land 7 km ( 4 miles) wide and 10 km (6 miles)  long in the foothills of Mount Kilimanjaro 70 kms (45 miles)  from the town of Arusha , and 14 kms ( 9 miles)  from Kilimanjaro Airport in the country of Tanzania. Experts maintain that the chances of finding Tanzanite elsewhere is very slim and it is estimated that the present supply will be completely exhausted in 15-20 years. Tanzanite is 1000 times rarer than diamond. Tanzanite is unique among gemstones for its multi-dimensional colour, radiating a dazzling kaleidoscope of royal blue, violet, indigo, lilac and periwinkle. The price for Tanzanite can range anywhere from $200 to $1000 per carat depending on the quality of the stone. One client of Lion Dog African Safaris recently returned with Tanzanite purchased at a store located at the Dar Es salaam airport for $800, and got it appraised at a value of $1200 upon returning home. There is fake Tanzanite and inferior Tanzanite that is passed onto unsuspecting buyers so it is highly advisable to get educated about Tanzanite before purchasing Tanzanite on the open market. A very interesting way to learn more about Tanzanite, and to perhaps purchase the gemstone at the source, would be to have Lion Dog African Safaris arrange for you to visit the Tanzanite mine and visitor centre as part of a Tanzanian tour. Tanzanite Quality Scale™ This Guide is based on the Tanzanite Foundation’s Tanzanite Quality Scale™, an internationally recognized system for grading and valuing tanzanite.    The 4 C'S In a similar way to diamonds, tanzanite is graded according to the 4 C's. The 4 C’s stand for: Color, Clarity, Cut and Carat weight. The higher the combination of these characteristics, the more rare and valuable the stone. Understanding and check all 4 C's before purchasing your tanzanite.    Color Color refers to the blue in tanzanite and its degree of violet saturation. The depth of color ranges from Exceptional to pale, with a 'B' or 'V' following 'v' or 'b' to indicate a predominance of blue or violet hues. Clarity Clarity refers to any natural flaws or inclusions in a tanzanite. Tanzanite ranges from Internally Flawless to Heavily Included. Cut Cut refers to the shape, facets and proportion of a tanzanite. A 'fine' cut ensures that the gem's facets reflect light to create maximum brilliance. Carat Carat refers to the term used to measure a tanzanite’s weight. One carat has 100 points and weighs 1/5 of a gram. View full newsletter Click Here Do you want to receive a weekly full edition of our newsletter: Click Here      LION DOG AFRICAN SAFARIS 1-888-50AFRICA 1-888-502-3742 8AM-8PM EST Lion Dog African Safaris provides quality Private-Custom Tours, either Escorted or Independent, at very competitive pricing. Visit our website for details on planning your dream African Safari www.liondogafricansafaris.com Call us for a free Africa Safari consultation: 1-888-50AFRICA