Tanzanite

Tanzanite takes its name from Tanzania, where it was discovered in the 1960s after storms around Mount Kilimanjaro. Originally brownish, it develops its blue-violet colour when exposed to heat. A trichroic gemstone, it can display blue, violet and bronze tones depending on the crystal’s orientation. Some fancy tanzanites even show striking multicoloured flashes. Found only in a 20 km² area in northern Tanzania, it is one of the rarest gemstones in the world. The Queen of Kilimanjaro, a 242-carat tanzanite set by Tiffany, remains its most famous example. Associated with creativity and self-expression, tanzanite inspires designers such as Brooke Gregson and Pippa Small, who value its balance of depth and softness.