A Guide to Diamonds & Tanzanite
Every precious stone tells an exquisite story.
Diamonds
Time, pressure and awe
The Diamond Trading Company, which historically controlled the world’s diamond supply, is not only famous for the expression a ‘Diamond is Forever’, but also for developing the 4 Cs method of evaluating diamonds. The 4 Cs: Colour, Clarity, Cut and Carat (weight), are fundamentals that determine the value and quality of a diamond.
The 4 Cs will help to guide your decision but it is important to remember that when it comes to understanding the quality of diamonds, even experts find it difficult. For example, a big diamond is not always more valuable than a smaller stone, a small but well-cut diamond of perfect colour and flawless clarity will be far more valuable than a much larger stone with visible impurities and a slight yellow tinge.
It takes a lifetime of experience to really know your diamonds, which is why Diamond Jewellery International has a team of specialists with years of experience. We only sell high-quality diamonds and will expertly guide you through the process. All stones are directly sourced from the world’s top diamond cutting centres. By cutting out the middleman, we promise to deliver real value to you. We will help you to learn and understand this all before you even think of buying.
Tanzanite
The beautiful African legend lives on
Masai cattle herders from East Africa first noticed this incredible gemstone some 40 years ago. After having put out a fire, which had been burning all night to ward off wild animals, they noticed that the brown zoisite crystals had turned a deep blue-purple from the heat.
Today, the Tanzanian Mining Ministry recognises a miner named Ndugue Jananne Ngoma as the person who discovered Tanzanite. A gemstone created by the transformation of zoisite under extreme heat and pressure caused by the movement of the earth’s crust in the formation of the Rift Valley.
The mineral zoisite is a fairly common reddish brown stone found throughout the world but blue zoisite or Tanzanite is extremely rare – and actually 1 000 times rarer than diamonds. The reason for this is that during crystallisation, the element vanadium attaches itself to the common zoisite. Vanadium is normally found very deep in the magma of the earth but with volcanic activity and the movement of tectonic plates, zoisite and vanadium are brought to the surface simultaneously, creating a unique gemstone that we now call Tanzanite.
There is only one Tanzanite mine in the world, situated in the Merelani Hills near a small town called Arusha in Tanzania. The mine is at the base of an extinct stratovolcano, the largest mountain in Africa, and one of the largest freestanding mountains in the world, Mount Kilimanjaro. The name “Tanzanite” originated from its country of origin “Tanzania” and was officially appointed by gemologists at Tiffany & Co. in Manhattan, New York.
Choosing Tanzanite
Even though Tanzanite is tri chloric and ranges from blue to violet and a red to green, it is best selected on true depth of colour. The unique shape of the stone is also a strong influence and larger pieces are becoming increasingly rare.
The world’s largest faceted tanzanite is 737.81 carats and one of the most famous large tanzanites (242 carats) is the “Queen of Kilimanjaro”. It is set in a tiara and accented with 803 brilliant cut tsavorite garnets and 913 brilliant cut diamonds.
The Tanzanite Grading Scale
1. Colour (Hue)
The predominant colour of the stone. Tanzanite can show a dominance of either blue or violet, with the dominant colour named last.
2. Saturation
The strength or intensity of the colour.
3. Clarity
The imperfections that may occur in the stone:
LC – Loupe Clean
EC – Eye Clean
LI – Light Included
MI – Moderately Included
HI – Heavily Included
4. Finish
The final polish, symmetry and external characteristics of the stone:
A – Excellent
B – Very Good
C – Good
D – Fair
E – Poor
Engagement Rings
Love’s eternal symbol
Offering a ring as a marriage proposal is an age-old tradition. This special ring is a pledge: a declaration of love and a lifelong commitment. More rings are bought to mark an engagement than any other occasion.
Asking someone’s hand in marriage is not only one of life’s most important moments but it can also be very daunting. At Diamond Jewellery International we understand this, and want to make the purchase of an engagement ring as special and memorable as possible. We value our relationships with our clients and will walk you through every step of the purchase journey.
We also understand value and ensure that you are guaranteed the best quality for the right price. When it comes to an engagement ring, you want to know that you have the finest product, source, design and workmanship. With us you can rest assured that:
- We are highly selective when we source our stones and our jewellery.
- We have brilliant master goldsmiths who are able to create or reproduce the design of your dreams.
- We guarantee you the best possible price.
- You will receive diamond class service.