Tanzanite is found exclusively in Tanzania, near the Merelani Hills. This stunningly unique purple/ blue Zoisite was first discovered by a Maasai tribesman in 1967 who at first thought he had stumbled upon a Sapphire deposit. According to a Tanzanian geologist, the unique circumstances which sparked the formation makes it highly unlikely that a new Tanzanite deposit will be found anywhere else in the world, making them a thousand times more rare than Diamonds. At the current rate of mining, it is likely that the available supply will be depleted in this generation.

Most Tanzanite is trichroic, appearing either blue, violet, or burgundy depending upon the direction of light being reflected from the stone. This phenomenon complicates the cutting process, making it imperative that the best gem cutters are employed to bring out the full potential of the rough. Most gem quality Tanzanite in the marketplace is heated to give a deep, strong saturation but occasionally, some paler but equally stunning unheated material becomes available.