Uploaded December 2025 | Updated September 2026, 2 days ago
Tanzanite’s one-of-a-kind color and rarity have made it a modern gemstone legend. This December birthstone is found only at the base of Mount Kilimanjaro and is prized for its unique pleochroism—it can show blue, violet and reddish purple hues when viewed from different angles.
Tanzanite is actually a blue to purple variety of the mineral zoisite, which naturally occurs in brownish hues and transforms into its vivid color through gentle heat treatment. Zoisite itself comes in several varieties including green and pink, but a saturated blue is a favorite among gem lovers.
Do you have a tanzanite in your collection?
Tanzanite’s one-of-a-kind color and rarity have made it a modern gemstone legend. This December birthstone is found only at the base of Mount Kilimanjaro and is prized for its unique pleochroism—it can show blue, violet and reddish purple hues when viewed from different angles.
Tanzanite is actually a blue to purple variety of the mineral zoisite, which naturally occurs in brownish hues and transforms into its vivid color through gentle heat treatment. Zoisite itself comes in several varieties including green and pink, but a saturated blue is a favorite among gem lovers.
Do you have a tanzanite in your collection?
