If I were to envision tanzanite as a being, it would be a snow queen (perhaps an Elsa, if you have a little Frozen fan)—who sparkles inside and out and decks herself in glittering icicles.
Suffice it to say, I think tanzanite is an apt representative for December and the holiday season—it’s a magical birthstone with winter baked right in.
My early encounters with tanzanite were weird. No doubt a gorgeous stone, it was hawked on cruise ships and around the country as the thing to buy—get it now, before it runs out! While this might have gotten plenty of consumers to open their wallets, for me it made it seem gimmicky.
That was in my early days of retail, and I’ve learned a lot since then. Tanzanite is rare, in the sense that it comes from only one source, and the supply of it is expected to run out one day. But I don’t think that’s why we buy it. The thing about tanzanite is, it doesn’t need an angle to make it salable—just have a look at it.
Who on earth doesn’t fall for such a gorgeous, universally appealing hue? Depending on how you’re looking at it, you might catch purple or blue, and different shades of them in between. It really does seem like magic, and that’s not the free cocktails from the cruise talking.
Magical, mystical, holiday-appropriate, and perfect for December babies and everyone else…behold tanzanite, in the hands of an impressive array of jewelry designers and brands that make it all the more gorgeous.
Starry earrings in 18k white gold with 7.48 cts. t.w. tanzanite and 1.38 cts. t.w. diamonds, $11,250; AlaninaHexagonal pendant in 18k white gold with 9.05 ct. tanzanite and 1.24 cts. t.w. diamonds, $13,000; Steven RoyceRing in platinum with 6.54 ct. tanzanite (trillion cut by Stephen Avery) and 1.25 cts. t.w. diamonds, $30,480; Brenda SmithEarrings in platinum with 6.63 cts. t.w. tanzanite and 1.07 cts. t.w. diamonds, $26,000; Omi PrivéPear-shape pendant in 14k yellow gold with 9.6 ct. tanzanite and 0.91 ct. t.w. diamonds, $13,490; Artistry, Ltd.Ring in 18k yellow gold with tanzanite; 18 Carat HouseSwitchback earrings in 20k rose gold with tanzanite, rainbow moonstone, and diamonds, $12,500; Nak ArmstrongBon Bon charm in 18k yellow gold with 25.33 cts. t.w. tanzanite, 3.05 cts. t.w. opal, and 0.87 ct. t.w. diamonds, $6,265; LionheartSignature collection ring in 18k white gold with tanzanite and 0.49 ct. t.w. diamonds, $8,590; John AtencioEarrings in platinum with tanzanite, sapphire, and diamonds, $45,680; CicadaVadali brooch in blackened sterling silver with tanzanite, sapphires, and diamonds, $2,300; Modern MoghulLayer Cake ring in yellow gold with 2.95 ct. tanzanite, rainbow moonstone, and 0.3 ct. t.w. diamonds, $7,850; Mason and BooksVines teardrop earrings in 18k yellow gold with 12 cts. t.w. tanzanite and 0.31 ct. t.w. diamonds, $7,150; Laurie KaiserSolitaire ring in 18k yellow gold with 1.09 ct. tanzanite, $4,200; Emily KuvinFlower stud earrings in 18k white gold with 5.3 cts. t.w. tanzanite and 0.09 ct. t.w. diamonds, $9,600; RahaminovCluster ring in 14k yellow gold with 1 ct. tanzanite and 1.4 cts. t.w. diamonds, price on request; Ashley ZhangHazel earrings in 18k rose and white gold with 9.82 cts. t.w. tanzanite and 0.6 ct. t.w. diamonds, $10,000; Future FortuneGiza ring in 18k yellow gold with 12.36 ct. tanzanite, price on request; Harwell Godfrey
Top: Sugarloaf ring in 18k white gold with 5.62 ct. tanzanite and 1.52 cts. t.w. diamonds, $32,600; Sonya K.
