5.98 Ct. Tanzanite from Tanzania

This violet tanzanite presents a precise and measured profile, weighing 5.98 carats and measuring 11.49 by 8.55 by 6.67 mm, cut in a classical emerald cut shape. The proportions favor an elongated rectangular table with gently truncated corners, producing the stepped facet architecture that defines the emerald cut. Clarity is graded as eye clean when evaluated at eye level, allowing the gem to display an unbroken field of intense violet color, with no surface reaching abrasions thanks to an excellent polish. Origin is Tanzania, the exclusive source of tanzanite, and the material has undergone standard heat treatment to neutralize brownish tones and to optimize the attractive blue violet chroma that collectors and designers prize. The Natural Gemstone Company presents this piece as a calibrated statement gem suitable for a high quality solitaire or a finely matched assortment for bespoke designs.

From a lapidary and optical perspective the cutting choices on this stone are intentional and exacting. The step cut configuration uses broad, flat facets on the crown and pavilion to emphasize color saturation and to produce a series of parallel light bands when viewed face up. The large table maximizes the area through which eye level inspection is conducted, making the eye clean clarity and the depth of tone immediately apparent. Because tanzanite is strongly trichroic, showing different colors on different crystallographic axes, the cutter has oriented the stone so that the most desirable violet blue face up color is dominant, while preserving pleochroic variety at peripheral facets. Refractive behavior for tanzanite is consistent with zoisite group mineralogy, producing moderate brilliance with distinct internal reflection patterns rather than the high dispersion of a diamond, and the excellent polish on the pavilion and crown facets yields crisp facet junctions and stable light performance.

This gem also carries a heritage that aligns it with a long tradition of using blue violet stones as focal elements in ceremonial and status jewelry. Historically, violet and deep blue gems such as sapphire and iolite were reserved for rings and pendants worn by elites and clergy as symbols of authority and spiritual insight. The emerald cut itself has classical associations with early twentieth century geometry, used extensively in Art Deco and later in restrained modernist signet and engagement rings where clarity and color take precedence over scintillation. Sourced from the Merelani region of Tanzania, this tanzanite inherits both geographic lineage and stylistic legacy, offering the modern collector the same visual language that earlier cultures signaled through richly hued stones. Heat treatment, a widely accepted and stable enhancement, places the color into the intensive range sought by connoisseurs while remaining within established trade practices.

Practical considerations for setting and wear follow directly from the gemological attributes. Tanzanite has moderate hardness and directional cleavage, therefore secure settings and protective design elements are recommended. A bezel or low profile, well engineered prong setting will protect the girdle and corners, and designers often position emerald cut tanzanites in settings that minimize exposure to sharp blows. Routine cleaning with warm water, mild detergent, and a soft brush will maintain the excellent polish and reveal the depth of color without risk to the stone. At The Natural Gemstone Company we select and finish each piece to meet exacting standards for proportion, polish, and optical orientation, and we provide detailed condition notes and imaging to support design decisions. For gem cutters and jewelers seeking a calibrated, eye clean, intensely colored violet tanzanite with classical emerald cut geometry, this specimen represents a technically refined and historically resonant choice.