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Lot 8485
Tanzanite
4 December 2005, 11:00 PST
Los AngelesUS$5,500 - US$7,500
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Merelani Mine
Near Arusha, Tanzania
A Portuguese prospector by the name of Manuel d'Souza discovered this gem in 1967 while searching for sapphire. Originally confused with sapphire because of its deep blue color, gem experts found that the gem was not “sapphire” as suspected, but an astounding variety of zoisite. The find was significant one which directly infused the colored stone market with a new enthusiasm. Henry Platt, vice president of Tiffany & Co. in New York, recognized its importance and, in the 1980s, began an aggressive marketing campaign, introducing it by a more memorable name for public consumption—Tanzanite.
The Merelani deposit was difficult to reach in the Usumburu Mountains that border the Umba Valley of northern Tanzania. The Tanzanian government has now embargoed the export of any rough from the country and only a smaller quantity of faceted stones are allowed to leave, clearly affecting the supply presently in this country.
The present elongated oval gem, has been beautifully faceted in the checkerboard style and displays a rich, predominantly blue color face up, and slightly more violet from the sides, illustrating the pleochroic nature of the mineral. Weighing approximately 8.3 carats and measuring 14.5 x 9.5 x 8.2mm.
Near Arusha, Tanzania
A Portuguese prospector by the name of Manuel d'Souza discovered this gem in 1967 while searching for sapphire. Originally confused with sapphire because of its deep blue color, gem experts found that the gem was not “sapphire” as suspected, but an astounding variety of zoisite. The find was significant one which directly infused the colored stone market with a new enthusiasm. Henry Platt, vice president of Tiffany & Co. in New York, recognized its importance and, in the 1980s, began an aggressive marketing campaign, introducing it by a more memorable name for public consumption—Tanzanite.
The Merelani deposit was difficult to reach in the Usumburu Mountains that border the Umba Valley of northern Tanzania. The Tanzanian government has now embargoed the export of any rough from the country and only a smaller quantity of faceted stones are allowed to leave, clearly affecting the supply presently in this country.
The present elongated oval gem, has been beautifully faceted in the checkerboard style and displays a rich, predominantly blue color face up, and slightly more violet from the sides, illustrating the pleochroic nature of the mineral. Weighing approximately 8.3 carats and measuring 14.5 x 9.5 x 8.2mm.