December's Birthstone is Tanzanite
Tanzanite is said to be a symbol of heart, intuition and purity. The name ‘tanzanite’ comes from the country in which tanzanite was discovered – Tanzania.Colour: The most desired tanzanite's are chosen because of their deep purple and blue tones.
History: Tanzanite's can only be found near Mount Kilimanjaro in Tanzania on a 4km area of land. The limited source of tanzanite means that within the next 10-12 years no more gem-quality tanzanite will be found, making the demand for tanzanite very high. Discovered in 1967, a local tailor found a cluster of stones at the foothills of Kilimanjaro. These stones were originally mistaken to be sapphires, then peridot and then dumortierite. After further investigation, gemmologists discovered that the gems appeared to be something new – the tanzanite. Today, tanzanite's are not just chosen because of their value but because of their beauty. With the stunning deep purples and blues, tanzanite's are breath-taking when set in any metal and any jewellery piece and they represent a true rich African heritage.
Found in: Tanzania