As mentioned in our
previous articles, tanzanites are very famous for their pleochroism, this is why the cutting
guides must be meticulously respected when cutting the stone
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Gemology
Gem-related Field
Tanzanite
The Incredible Formation Of
Tanzanite
Fifty-eighty-five million years. Mother
Nature required this much time to form one of her most precious gems in the foothills of
Mount Kilimanjaro. To comprehend the true nature of this stone, we must first comprehend how
Mount Kilimanjaro was formed.
The process by which it formed is known as
regional metamorphism, and it can be defined as follows: when tectonic plates collide, the
igneous rocks (rocks formed by cooling and solidifying magma/lava) on each plate are
transformed into one another by intense pressure. When the rocks reach the melting point,
they form magnificent crystal structures.
The circumstances that led to the
formation of this pure gem were so special that geologists believe that the chances of
finding another batch of tanzanite in another part of the world are less than one in a
million!
Details of this stone: Certified: No Color:
Purplish Blue Origin: Tanzania Shape
& Cut: Cushion Treatment: Heat
Weight (cts): 9.85 Single/pair: Single
THE QUESTION
How Do We Cut Tanzanites?
The pleochroism of Tanzanites is well
known. They do, in fact, have the distinct ability to show different colors when viewed from
different crystal directions. This is why, when cutting the stone, the cutting guides must
be meticulously followed, since they will decide the overall face-up color of the stone.
Cutters do not apprehend their cutting process in the same way as they do with other
gems.
When deciding how to cut tanzanite, financial factors are important.
Indeed, lost weight equals lost revenue. They must exercise extreme caution before
initiating any action. Fine cut tanzanite usually yields up to 30% of the premium over cut
stones when weight maximization techniques are used. To save money, cutters generally try to
emphasize the violet-purple color because it is less difficult than cutting tanzanite to
produce a violet-blue hue.
This explains why face-up violet-purple tanzanites are
more commonly found on the market than those with a greater blue color component.
Tanzanite
9.85 cts
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Benjamin Poudevigne
Social Media Manager at
BespokeGems
With over ten years of marketing
experience, I finally decided to settle down in Bangkok to work in an area that I have
always been interested in: the gemstones industry. I'm still learning how the market works
on a daily basis, and I enjoy sharing my experience with those who are interested in
learning more about gems in general.