Choosing And Caring For A Tanzanite Pendant
Author: Lyn Davis

Tanzanite is a very highly prized stone found only deep in the
mines of Tanzania, Africa. There is speculation that the mines
will soon be depleted and no other sources of Tanzanite has
been discovered. Legend has it that the Masaai tribe discovered
tanzanite after lightning had struck the plain brown stone,
turning it a dazzling shade of violet.  It is said that the
Masaai traditionally give tanzanite as a gift when a baby is
born.

Brought to consumers by jewelry legend Tiffany and Co. shortly
after it's discovery in 1967, tanzanite has been a popular
choice for jewelry ever since.

A tanzanite pendant can be a beautiful addition to your jewelry
box. Ranging in size from one to usually no more than ten
carats, a tanzanite pendant can be delicate and small or bold
and big. The larger the stone, the more it will usually cost
per carat.

Tanzanite has the amazing capacity to display shades of purple,
blue, and even green and red, depending on it's cut and the way
the light hits the stone. The most valuable stones are the ones
with the deepest saturation of color.

Take care not to expose your tanzanite pendant to prolonged
heat or elements such as seawater. Never put your tanzanite
pendant in an ultrasonic jewelry cleaner. Your jeweler can
advise you of the best way to clean your tanzanite, or they can
simply do it for you. If your tanzanite pendant becomes smudged,
simply polish gently with a soft cloth.

Tanzanite is preferred in pendants and earrings because of it's
Moh's scale ranking. Coming in at 6.5, tanzanite is not as
durable as other common gemstones. Tanzanite rings are more
likely to be damaged than a harder gemstone. Pendants and
earrings do not usually take as many jostles and hits the way
rings might in everyday situations, so tanzanite is a fine
choice for these types of jewelry.