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IN THE NEWS

January 8, 2003
In The News - A Service of
Mrs. Gottrocks Fine Jewelry and Gifts

Tanzanite Designated Additional December Birthstone

The American Gem Trade Association (AGTA) has announced its decision to add the gemstone Tanzanite to the December birthstone family. This is the first new birthstone in 90 years, and this East African gemstone joins Turquoise and Zircon as December birthstones.

The Trade Association is working with the Jewelers of America, the American Gem Society, and the International Colored Gemstone Association to dissemintate the news to consumers and jewelers.

Tanzanite was discovered in 1969 in Merelani, Tanzania, and is a form of the mineral Zoisite which is often found in the ground in conjunction with rubies. Colorless Zoisite was orangy brown, and up to that time was overlooked as a useful gemstone. Accidental heating of this unattractive colorless mineral resulted in the change from orangy brown to a deep, beautiful shade of violet blue. This change of color was stable, prompting Tiffany and Company to debut this new version of Zoisite in the 1970's - naming it Tanzanite in honor of the country where it is found in small quantities. Demand in the United States for this elusive gemstone is now so strong, that according to the AGTA it is second in popularity only to Sapphire.