Introduction
Whenever we think of proposing to our partner with a gemstone ring, the only ring that comes to our mind is a diamond ring. Many people try to find alternatives to diamonds because they want to propose to their partner with something rarer, something different. A stone that is around 1,000 times rarer than a diamond is the tanzanite stone, and the reason for its rarity is that it is found in only one location in this world – Tanzania, Africa. In this blog, we are going to talk about tanzanite rings. Specifically, we will be covering the different metals you can opt for when choosing this gemstone ring, along with the reasons for selecting a prong setting for your ring. We will also be resolving the question that almost every Tanzanite buyer thinks of, which is, should they be concerned if the stone in their ring is heat treated? Let’s not wait any longer and begin by discovering more about this impressive gemstone!
What is Tanzanite?
Tanzanite, which belongs to the epidote mineral family, is a rare blue-to-violet variety of zoisite. This semi-precious stone was discovered in the late 1960s near Mount Kilimanjaro in Tanzania, Africa, and what makes this stone rare is that it is mined only in a small area of northern Tanzania. The specialty of this stone is its strong pleochroism. What does it mean? It means that this stone displays different colors, such as red-violet, deep blue, purple, and greenish-yellow when viewed from different directions and angles.
Physical Properties of Tanzanite
- Color: This stone typically displays blue, violet, and burgundy hues, and its color depends on the direction and angle it is viewed from.
- Hardness: This gemstone is considerably hard – it ranks 6.5 on the Moh’s Scale of Mineral Hardness, right between feldspar and quartz.
- Crystal System: This gemstone forms an orthorhombic crystal system
- Specific Gravity: Ranges between 3.10 to 3.38
- Refractive Index: Between 1.691 to 1.700
- Cleavage: Perfect along one direction {010}
- Transparency: Transparent, showcasing deep colors
- Luster: Either vitreous (or glass-like) or pearly. The pearly luster is displayed on cleavage surfaces.
Mineral Composition of Tanzanite
Chemical Formula: Ca2Al3(SiO4)3(OH)
Mineral Class: Zoisite, or calcium aluminum silicate hydroxide
Composition Breakdown:
- Calcium (Ca): 17.64%
- Aluminum (Al): 17.82%
- Silicon (Si): 18.54%
- Hydrogen (H): 0.22%
- Oxygen (O): 45.78%
Note: The presence of vanadium in small amounts results in this gemstone getting its highly prized blue colors. If trace amounts of chromium are present in this gemstone, it results in the gemstone getting violet hues.
Which Metal to Choose for Your Tanzanite Ring?
Suitable Metals for Your Tanzanite Ring
- White Gold: If you desire a dramatic and icy look that beautifully contrasts tanzanite stone’s violet hues, then you should opt for white gold as the base metal of your ring.
- Yellow Gold: When you opt for yellow gold as the base metal, it intensifies the centerpiece stone with its warmth, and the purple and red colors of the stone will pop up beautifully within the ring.
- Rose Gold: Among customers, rose gold is the most applauded metal because the warm, pinkish hues of this metal contrast beautifully with the cool blue tones of tanzanite, and it gives the ring a sophisticated look.
- Platinum: Similar to white gold, even platinum offers a cool-toned backdrop when used as the base metal in a tanzanite ring.
- Sterling Silver: The main reason why 925 sterling silver is used in rings is because it is a budget-friendly choice. Oftentimes, the sterling silver is overlayed with rose gold vermeil or yellow gold vermeil if the buyer asks for a gold finish.
Why Should You Choose 925 Sterling Silver as Base Metal for Your Tanzanite Ring?
- Improves Beauty of the Tanzanite Stone: The cool, white tones of 925 sterling silver complement the blues and violets of this stone very well, and the bright, lustrous finish of sterling silver creates an interesting contrast within the ring.
- Durability and Strength: 925 sterling silver is basically 92.5% pure silver and 7.5% copper – it is copper that significantly improves the strength and durability of the sterling silver alloy. The improved strength of this silver enables tanzanite rings to withstand daily wear while also protecting the stone from popping out.
- Hypoallergenic Nature: This silver is hypoallergenic in nature, which is why the rings made with it have little likelihood of causing skin allergies. Thus, you can say that sterling silver rings are an excellent choice for those with sensitive skin – these people can wear the ring for extended periods without worrying about any metal allergies.
- Affordability: Sterling silver is more affordable in comparison to gold or platinum, which is why it enables the buyer to invest more in the quality or size of the stone when purchasing the tanzanite ring.
- Stylish: This silver is quite stylish, meaning the neutral color of sterling silver complements most skin tones, with the plus point being it can be crafted into a wide array of designs, from contemporary to classic.
- Easy to Maintain: This silver is quite easy to maintain, and regular cleaning and polishing of your sterling silver tanzanite ring can keep it looking beautiful for years. Also, treating tarnishing, if this silver gets any, is very simple.
Why Should You Choose the Prong Setting for Your Tanzanite Ring?
Within all the different gemstone settings, the prong setting works the best for tanzanite rings. Why is it so? Let us explore…
Improved Brilliance and Sparkle
Within faceted tanzanite stones, the prong setting is the best as:
- The stone gets maximum light exposure since this setting uses minimal metal to hold the stone in its place.
- More light enters and exits the stone from various angles, resulting in improved fire and brilliance.
- The true colors of tanzanite and the beauty of different facets are showcased properly within the prong setting.
Great Flexibility
The prong setting offers great flexibility to the ring because:
- Stones having different shapes and sizes can be easily set when the prong setting is employed within the ring.
- You can get the shape of the prongs customized (like tab prongs, round prongs, or claw prongs) in order to complement the cut of the tanzanite stone.
Maximum Stone Visibility
- As opposed to other stone settings (say the bezel setting), the prong setting uses minimal metal, thus creating the illusion of a larger, more prominent stone.
- You can adore the beauty of the stone set in your tanzanite ring from all angles since the prongs cover very little area of the gemstone.
Better Security and Easy Maintenance
- The prong setting securely holds the gemstone in its place, and if you want extra security (say, because you have a larger stone), you can opt for a 6-prong setting.
- This setting is easy to clean and maintain as opposed to other metal settings. Also, the raised position of the stone makes it easier to clean the dirt and debris that gets trapped underneath the stone.
Stone Quality: Should You Worry if Your Tanzanite Ring Has Heat-Treated Tanzanite?
You need not worry if the tanzanite stone set in your ring is heat treated – almost all tanzanite on the market is heat treated in today’s times. The reason why this stone is heat-treated is because it is naturally brown or greenish when mined. The heat treatment brings out the desirable blue and violet hues for which the tanzanite stone is famous in the whole world.
Another thing you need to know is that the color change achieved via heating is stable and permanent, meaning it does not reverse over time as you wear it daily. Also, heat treatment never causes depreciation of value – instead, it increases the stone’s desirability and value because of the stone’s enhanced color. So yes, you should never worry if your tanzanite ring has a heat-treated stone set in it.
Conclusion
Tanzanite is one of the rarest stones on Earth, and you can understand this by what geologists say about this stone. Here is the take of Tanzanian geologists: the chain of events that led to the formation of this stone 585 million years ago is so unique and hard to occur that the possibility of finding it anywhere else on this planet is one in a million! No wonder why this stone has taken over the world of gemstone jewelry by storm! With that being said, we would like to ask you if you are a retailer searching for tanzanite rings and other tanzanite jewelry at wholesale rates.
If this is the case, you can browse the website of Rananjay Exports – India’s biggest wholesale gemstone jewelry supplier. Other than tanzanite, we deal in 200+ other semi-precious stones, and within our inventory, you will find a huge range of wholesale gemstone jewelry and 925 sterling silver jewelry. From handmade jewelry, and casting jewelry to custom jewelry, and designer jewelry, we sell it all on our website. So, order jewelry from us now!
