A VERY showy, very blue, natural tanzanite that shows well the purple and blue dichroism inherent in the species from this locality. It is either natural in color or lightly heated to enhance the blue hue (a common practice there and considered acceptable by many collectors if price is adjusted accordingly). The purple hue is not as intense and is difficult to photograph. The crystal does have some attached matrix, of graphite. The crystal has a superb, tapered termination , most unusual for tanzanites which tend to end in more blunt chisel-shaped terminations.

This cluster of parallel growth tanzanite crystals is dramatic and sculptural. Natural tanzanite shows 2 colors - blue and purple on axes of view rotated 90-degrees from each other in the horizontal plane. Much material also shows a third color, from brown to red, running up the c-axis when lit from below (vertically). This specimen is somewhat unusual in that it shows purple faces on the broadest, front-facing display side. For whatever reason, these crystals normally show blue on front and purple to the sides, as we would display most specimens. I do not know why this is so, but there you have it - and so, the purple oriented forward is somewhat rare, and makes the piece stand out. When it is lit straight from behind , you see primarily purple with some bleed of blue from the other horizontal axis of color, and some red seeping in from the vertical color axis of tanzanite. From the side, the piece has intense blue color in the tops of the crystals, though the body is partly saturated with red and brown hues which are reflected out of the c-axis. The luster is glassy and the mountain-like form of the piece makes it impressive, and more complex to the eye than the traditional tanzanite "single crystal aesthetic" we mostly see from here. The crystal mass is 112 grams

This is a single sharp crystal with great gemminess as you can see (and these are hard to photo so if these pics give the idea, its BETTER in person). Note the trichroic color change that is most desired (blue, purple, red colors depending on the axis of light entry). For the size and condition, I think this is a bargain, something I picked up as a liquidation sale off of a gem dealer prior to the Denver show. It is hard to get large gemmy crystals of this size, nd trichroic, without myself paying over $10,000. So although its all relative, I regard this as a decent bargain and investment in a full miniature-sized tanzie. You do not get such opportunities often with this gem species. Comes with custom base.

Tanzanite is the color-changing blue/purple variety of the mineral zoisite discovered in the Merelani Hills of Northern Tanzania in 1967. The name was coined by Tiffany and Company, and excellent promotion and market acceptance has made tanzanite an impressive investment commodity over the years. However, truly fine tanzanite gems of a highly desirable, deep-blue color are not readily available in the market. Many gems sold do not show the slight hints of purple flashes you want to see, as you look into the blue face. This round cut is superb on all counts -- it has a rich and fabulous color, a somewhat rare round cut and is top quality for the species. Highly recommended for a spectacular pendant or ring stone, this circular cut is designed to emphasize sparkle and brightness. If you were looking at such a stone on the market, you would have to assume it was heat treated. However, we consigned the piece from a known source who cut it from untreated rough, and can provide the assurance that it is natural color. NOTE lesser quality tanzanite is...cheaper. This is a superior quality and cut, and goes for a bit of a premium

A beautiful, sharp, very chisel-like crystal that makes for a fine thumbnail example of these gem tanzanites. 15 carats (about 3 grams).

This specimen and the next were part of a small but choice lot mined in the summer of 2010, that featured unusually intense color in natural (unheated) crystals. It shows in a case without need for strong backlighting.This specimen is 85 grams, and measures just over 2 inches tall. It is riveting for its gemminess and intense blue and purple colors. What I really like about it from a collectors' point of view is that it is a fat, wide, laterally-presenting crystal whereas so many tanzanites of this size present a narrower view through the gemmy zones. Thus, you get a lot of display oomph for the price, compared to some others. The area of gem quality cutting rough is very high in proportion to the volume, and so a fair amount of value is present in the form of rough for cut gems. When backlit from the bottom or top, the colors light up in a merger of both blue and purple, with flashes of electric red (as shown). The views here show front, side (more purple in person!!), and then rear views with a shot lit from above showing the red color mixing. The piece is complete all around except only the most trivial of nicks and a slight contacting on back. It comes with a custom lucite base for display.

This specimen and the previous piece were part of a small but choice lot mined in the summer of 2010, that featured unusually intense color in natural (unheated) crystals. It shows in a case without need for strong backlighting.This specimen is 62 grams, and measures just under 2.5 inches tall. It is riveting for its gemminess and intense blue and purple colors. The area of gem quality cutting rough in the top half of the crystal is of superior quality and would yield a fair amount of (intrinsic) value if cut. In person, it is stunnign and bright internally in a way that photos cannot easily convey. THE COLOR IS INTENSE...in the photos, while technically accurate, the lustre and brightness simply are muted. When backlit from the bottom or top, flashes of electric red can be seen (as shown in bottom photo), although again the photo simply does not convey the intensity of the effect and it is more red than purple, in person. The views here show all four sides. The piece is complete all around with no bruising or contacts at all. It comes with a custom lucite base for display. This is a MAJOR specimen for the size and price range, with a considerable value intrinsic to the quality of its cutting rough. It is good enough for any major collection and would be quite difficult to upgrade, I believe, without jumping to a higher price range yet (and then, it is very rarified anyways in terms of what may be available).

A VERY LUSTROUS, glassy, super-gemmy crystal that in person just sparkles more than others for some reason. It has incredible transparency throughout 80% of its body, though the camera makes internal veils look worse than they are in person. The crystal is a very limpid blue on the front, intense purple on the side, and does show red color when lit up the c-axis from below. Unusually, there are two very thin "stripes" of green zoning on either side of the main face, that are more visible in person (though still quite subtle). I have seen very few tanzanites, with this odd color zoning effect. BETTER IN PERSON, this is a miniature that really stands out, without breaking the bank.