Tanzanite vs Diamond: which stone is more valuable?

Why do diamonds rank among the most costly stones available? What is the basis for the extraordinary hoopla that surrounds them? How do they get people to love them? Previously, we believed that the reason diamonds are so costly and well-liked was due to their exceptional beauty and scarcity.

What if we said that some stones were far more rare than diamonds? And not in the slightest less beautiful than them. They are not thought to be valuable, cost 10 times less, and not many people hunt them. We are discussing Tanzanites.

What is Tanzanite?

 

The mineral known as zoisite has a violet blue to blue violet variant known as tanzanite.

Excellent tanzanites come in two distinct shades: a distinct violet tint and a violetish blue color that is quite comparable to a sapphire. Fascinating fact: when mined, the majority of tanzanites exhibit an entirely different color. Typically, they have a brown-red color. Tanzanites are heated to give them the deep blue hue for which they are recognized. But once heated, these stones maintain the hue without running the risk of becoming too light or too dark.

This stone’s singular quality is that it can only be found in one location on Earth: a 20-square-mile region in Tanzania’s Merlani foothills. In the Merelani highlands, a Masai tribesman discovered concentrations of strong indigo crystals.

When he told Manuel d’Souza, an Indian prospector and tailor, about his find, he aroused his curiosity right away, believing the tribesman had discovered a fresh sapphire mine. He was, as far as we can tell, a little let down when the sapphires turned out to be tanzanites.

Later, while touring the European lapidary workshop, Harry Platt, the former chairman of Tiffany & Co., noticed the stone. He was able to get the stone’s selling rights. In addition, he named the stone after Tanzania, the nation where it was found. This was his latest creative endeavor.

Tanzanite at that period gained popularity quite quickly. Its striking size and deep color appealed to both jewelry designers and gem enthusiasts.

Tanzanite vs Diamond

Tanzanites are substantially less valuable in the gemstone market even though they are far rarer stones than the previously mentioned sapphires and diamonds. Let’s investigate the relationship between this and the reason it is occurring.

Color

When comparing a diamond and a tanzanite, the color is what first draws the eye’s attention. Diamonds come in an array of hues and tones, ranging from pink to green to blue to yellow.

Tanganites, on the other hand, only come in one color—bright blue. Indeed, this color helped them become well-known, and it does have the ability to somewhat shift into other colors, including violet. However, Tanzanites typically only have one color to their name.

As a result, diamonds come in a wider range of colors than tanzanites.

Brilliance

Who hasn’t heard about a diamond’s brilliance? It appears that one of these stones’ defining characteristics is their insane brilliance. White diamonds and mild shade variations exhibit this characteristic the greatest.

Tanzanites are limited to one shade of blue, thus they are unable to exhibit the same stunning brilliance. Their value and value in relation to diamonds are likewise greatly impacted by this.

Sparkle

The sparkle of tanzanite and diamond varies as well. Grading results indicate that the diamond sparkles far more than tanzanite. However, the quality of the cut has a major influence on the amount of sparkle; the more skillfully the cut is made, the more shining the stone will have.

Still, the diamond sparkles brilliantly at first, simply by being there.

Hardness

Let us now discuss hardness. the attribute that is quantified using the Moss Hardness scale.

It should come as no surprise that the levels of diamond and tanzanite differ in this instance as well. The majority of precious stones, which are pricey and valuable, are quite hard. Since diamonds are thought to be the toughest stone, they win hands down in this situation. Regarding the Tanzanites, the same cannot be stated. These stones are incapable of claiming remarkable accomplishments. They wear out more faster than diamonds because they are considerably softer.

Furthermore, the stone’s great hardness enables the cutters to create shapes that are more beautiful and distinct. This in turn influences the stone’s overall look and other properties. Hence, tanzanite cut is not  as precisely as it is possible with diamonds.

Clarity

The brilliance, beauty, and attractiveness of precious stones also vary due to their clarity. Thus, the diamond prevails once more in this battle. Clarity-awarded diamonds are incredibly beautiful.

Generally speaking, tanzanites are less clear than diamonds.

Price

As you can see, the total cost of the stone is determined by the aforementioned factors. Identify who the victor of this match is. There are no questions left; it’s a diamond once more.

The most costly stones available for purchase as gemstones are diamonds. Their uncommon examples are simply astonishingly expensive, and collectors and jewelers are willing to pay millions of dollars for them.

Tanzanians exhibit an entirely distinct circumstance. Per carat, their average cost is between $600 and $1,000. Tanzanites are generally regarded as some of the most affordable types of lovely gemstones.

Conclusion

Nonetheless, drawing comparisons between tanzanite and diamond is challenging. These stones do not belong in the same category, that much is true. As a result, diamonds are the most valuable precious stone, and their price reflects this. Conversely, tanzanites have the lowest rank in this ranking. Although there is hundreds of times less demand for them, they are in fact far rarer than diamonds. They lack the clarity, sparkle, brightness, and range of color tones found in diamonds.

Naturally, this does not render tanzanites unappealing or dull. Even now, these stones are stunning due to their intensely vivid blue hue. In addition, they both look fantastic alone and in combination with other stones when worn as jewelry. Take diamonds, for instance. Tanzanites and white diamonds together will have a particularly lovely appearance.

In any event, the story of diamonds and tanzanites helps to provide light on the operation of the gemstone market.

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