While both blue and purple tanzanite are beautiful and highly valued, intense blue tanzanite is generally considered the most sought-after and desirable color. This preference is primarily due to its rarity and market demand.
Understanding Tanzanite Coloration
Tanzanite is a unique gemstone known for its remarkable pleochroism, meaning it can display different colors when viewed from various angles. Its natural color palette typically ranges from blue to purple, including shades of violet-blue. The value of a tanzanite gemstone is heavily influenced by the intensity and saturation of its color.
- Intense Blue: Often described as a rich, vivid sapphire-like blue, these stones are the pinnacle of tanzanite coloration. They exhibit a high degree of saturation and minimal secondary hues, making them exceptionally rare and highly prized.
- Deep Purple: Tanzanite with a dominant deep purple hue, often with flashes of blue, is also highly valuable and considered rare. These gemstones offer a luxurious and distinct appeal.
- Violet-Blue: This shade represents a harmonious blend of blue and violet, offering a vibrant and captivating appearance. Stones in this range are also desirable, falling between the pure intense blues and deep purples in terms of color dominance.
Why Intense Blue is Prized
The preference for intense blue tanzanite stems from several factors, making it "better" in terms of market value and desirability:
- Rarity: Truly intense blue tanzanite, with minimal secondary purple or violet tones, is exceptionally rare. This scarcity drives its higher value.
- Demand: Historically, and currently, there is a strong market preference for the vivid, saturated blue hues, often compared to the finest sapphires. This demand contributes significantly to its higher price point.
- Color Saturation: The most valuable tanzanites exhibit a strong to vivid color saturation. Intense blue specimens display this saturation without being too dark, allowing light to beautifully interact with the facets.
While deep colored purple and other blue shades of tanzanite are also valuable and rare, especially those with strong saturation, the market consistently places the highest premium on the intense blue varieties. Any tanzanite colors outside the deep blue, purple, or violet-blue range are generally considered less valuable and less rare.
To summarize the color preference:
| Tanzanite Color Shade | Desirability & Value | Rarity | Key Characteristics |
|---|---|---|---|
| Intense Blue | Highest | High | Vivid, highly saturated pure blue. |
| Deep Purple | High | High | Rich, saturated purple, often with blue flashes. |
| Violet-Blue | High | High | A beautiful blend of blue and violet. |
| Other Shades | Moderate | Moderate | Less intense saturation or less desirable hues. |
Understanding these distinctions can help in appreciating the specific qualities that make a tanzanite gemstone stand out. For more general information about tanzanite, you can explore resources from reputable gemological institutes like the Gemological Institute of America (GIA).
