Violet Blue Tanzanite

Violet Blue Tanzanite From Tanzania 2.8mm .12 CT Untreated. 

Tanzanite is a rare and exceptionally beautiful gemstone known for its striking violet-blue to bluish-violet hues. Mined exclusively in the Merelani Hills of Tanzania at the foothills of Mount Kilimanjaro, it is famous for its trichroism—the ability to display different colors (deep blue, violet, and red-violet) when viewed from different angles.

Key Gemstone Details

• Mineral Family: Zoisite (calcium aluminum hydroxy silicate).
• Color Cause: Traces of vanadium. Most commercial stones are heat-treated to enhance their coveted blue-violet saturation.
• Hardness: 6.5 - 7.0 on the Mohs scale (requires careful handling to avoid scratching or hard impacts).
• Rarity: 1,000 times rarer than diamonds due to its single localized source.

Color Grading and Value

The value of a violet-blue tanzanite is determined largely by its depth of color. 

• Top-tier (Vivid): Deep, intensely saturated pure blues with flashes of violet are the most valuable.
• Mid-tier (Violet-Blue/Blue-Violet): Highly sought-after, where a beautiful mix of both colors is dominant.
• Lighter Tones: Pastel shades of lavender or light blue are more common and generally hold a lower price-per-carat. 

Current Pricing and Market

Pricing varies widely depending on cut, clarity, and carat weight: 

• High-quality faceted stones typically range anywhere from $250 to over $10,000 per carat.
• A mid-sized, GIA-certified oval cut (e.g., 4.43 carats) with eye-clean clarity and strong violet-blue hues usually commands around $3,500.
• Large, flawless investment-grade stones (e.g., 11+ carats) can list for $8,000 or more.