2.85 Ct. Tanzanite from Tanzania

This tanzanite is a transparent, radiant shape gem weighing 2.85 carats, with exact dimensions of 8.20 by 6.95 by 6.28 millimeters, and a pronounced violet appearance. The stone has been fashioned in a radiant cut, combining trimmed corners with a faceting pattern that balances brilliance and depth. Clarity is reported as very very slightly included when evaluated at eye level, indicating the gem is effectively eye clean with minute internal features that do not distract from its overall visual presence. The color intensity is described as intense, and the surface shows an excellent polish, which together produce a strong face up color and a refined, even luster. The piece has undergone standard heat treatment to enhance its violet blue tones, an accepted and stable enhancement in tanzanite, and its provenance is Tanzania, the established source for this species.

The radiant cut of this specimen has been executed to emphasize both shine and saturation, the faceting pattern allowing facets to interact in a way that reveals the tanzanites pleochroic character. When viewed from different angles the gem displays a dominant violet hue with variable blue undertones, while in certain orientations slightly deeper purple flashes become apparent. The excellent polish contributes to crisp facet junctions and controlled light leakage, so the gem returns light with clarity and depth rather than broad washy reflections. The clarity grade of very very slightly included at eye level suggests excellent transparency, with any inclusions likely visible only under magnification, which preserves the gems visual intensity and makes it suitable for a variety of jewelry settings where a clean presentation is desired.

In comparing hue and tone to gemstones from other famous locations, this Tanzanian tanzanite reads distinctly from classic Kashmir sapphire examples. Kashmir sapphires are renowned for a velvety cornflower blue with a soft, slightly muted tone and a unique silky depth, whereas this tanzanite carries a firmer violet axis, with more obvious purple saturation and a cooler, blue leaning cast in certain lights. Against Sri Lankan sapphires, often described as lighter, more brilliant and sometimes with a slightly greener blue component, the tanzanite here appears more concentrated in purple and less inclined to the electric, lighter blue that Ceylon stones can display. Compared with Russian alexandrite specimens that change dramatically under different lighting conditions, shifting from green to reddish tones, the tanzanite is more consistent in tone, offering a stable intense violet with blue play, rather than a dramatic color change, while matching alexandrite in terms of depth of saturation on the purple red face when viewed in incandescent lighting.

Viewed alongside other purple gems from well known localities, the distinctions remain instructive. Compared to amethyst from Uruguay and Brazil, which often present as pure purple with varying degrees of saturation, this tanzanite introduces a cooler, bluer nuance that keeps the stone within the violet blue family rather than the pure violet family. The tone of the tanzanite is deeper than many Brazilian amethysts, offering greater intensity and a more gemstone like depth, while Uruguayan amethysts with their rich, saturated purples remain more purely violet than this stone. When held against premium Burmese or Sri Lankan spinels that show vivid pure violet or purplish red tones, the tanzanites overall appearance is less ruby like and more silk like, owing to its pleochroism and refractive properties, resulting in a softer, more layered visual effect rather than the immediate, high refractive brilliance associated with spinel and sapphire. For those considering setting options, the stones dimensions and radiant cut make it well suited for a balance of table presence and secure mounting in a ring or pendant, and the combination of intense color, eye level clarity, and excellent polish presents a gem that performs with poise in daylight and artificial light alike.

The Natural Gemstone Company provides this description based on measured dimensions, visual grading, and customary gemological practice, including disclosure that the tanzanite has been heat treated to achieve its present hue and tone. For clients seeking further assurance, the gem can be submitted for formal certification that documents its weight, cut, dimensions, clarity grade, enhancement and origin. Care recommendations include avoiding prolonged exposure to high heat or sudden temperature shock, and cleaning with a moderate warm soapy solution and a soft brush, since the stone responds well to conventional jewelry care practices but benefits from protection against hard blows and abrasive cleaners. In summary, this 2.85 carat radiant tanzanite from Tanzania presents an intense, transparent violet character with excellent polish and eye level clarity, offering a distinctive alternative to the blues and purples of other famous gem localities, while maintaining the stable and desirable attributes that collectors and jewelry designers seek.