There is a reason we keep coming back to tanzanite. Found in only one place on Earth, a small stretch of land at the foot of Mount Kilimanjaro in Tanzania, this gemstone carries a rarity that few people fully appreciate. In fact, tanzanite is significantly rarer than diamonds. Where diamonds are mined across multiple continents in vast quantities, tanzanite exists in a single, finite deposit. Once that source is depleted, there will be no more.
At Uwe Koetter, we have always been drawn to gemstones with a story, and tanzanite’s story is one of scarcity, discovery, and colour unlike anything else in the natural world. We always keep Ready to Wear tanzanite jewellery available at our store, located in Green Point, alongside a selection of loose stones for clients who wish to design something entirely their own.
A Stone of Many Colours
What makes tanzanite so captivating is a property called pleochroism. This means the stone shows three distinct colours: blue, violet, and red, red being extremely rare, depending on the angle from which it is viewed and the intensity of light around it. It is this shifting quality that gives tanzanite its depth. Some stones lean almost entirely blue, others drift into a rich violet, and the interplay between the two is part of what makes each piece so individual.
Why Size Matters More Than You’d Think
With tanzanite, size does not just mean a bigger stone, it fundamentally changes how the colour presents itself. Smaller tanzanites tend to appear duller and lighter in tone, while larger stones reveal the vibrant, saturated blues and violets the gem is known for. This is one of the reasons a larger tanzanite is so prized. It is not only rarer to find at that size, it is also the size at which the stone’s true colour potential comes alive.
A Beautiful Stone, With a Few Considerations
Tanzanite sits at 6.5 to 7 on the Mohs hardness scale. For context, this is considerably softer than a diamond. What this means practically is that while tanzanite is a stunning choice for statement pieces, earrings, pendants, and occasional rings, it is not the stone we would recommend for a piece worn daily and exposed to constant wear, such as an engagement ring. Its beauty deserves a setting and lifestyle that protects it.
Discover Tanzanite at Uwe Koetter
Few gemstones offer the rarity, colour depth, and quiet drama of tanzanite. Whether you are drawn to a Ready to Wear piece from our collection or wish to work with our designers on something bespoke using a loose stone of your choosing, we would love to help you discover why this remarkable gem continues to captivate collectors around the world.
Visit us in Green Point, Cape Town, or get in touch to explore our current tanzanite collection.
