Natural Paraiba Tourmaline
Tanzanite Prices
It is very unusual when a recently discovered gemstone has a huge impact on the world gemstone market. It happened with paraiba tourmaline in the 1990’s. But the case of tanzanite in the 1960’s is even more intriguing.
Tanzanite, a rare violet-blue form of the mineral zoisite, was first discovered in 1967 in Tanzania. East Africa remains the only source for tanzanite and the supply is extremely limited. The limited supply, combined with soaring demand, has resulting in rising prices.
The immense popularity of tanzanite is surprising. Originally the gem was known by the more pedestrian name, “blue zoisite.” But even that name was a bit of a stretch, since tanzanite is rarely blue in nature. In its natural state, it is a rather uninspiring brown, and the violet blue is produced through heat treatment. It is not a particularly hard-wearing gem either. At 6.5 on the Mohs hardness scale and with delicate cleavage, it is less durable than common quartz. How did such a gem come to sell for prices up to $1000 a carat?
The answer is marketing. Tanzanite got its first big push into the market with the help of Tiffany & Co., who gave it the new name “tanzanite” and mounted a major advertising campaign in 1969. Tiffany showed little restraint in hyping tanzanite. Henry Platt, the grandson of Louis Comfort Tiffany, described tanzanite as “the most beautiful blue stone to be discovered in over 2000 years.”
Though tanzanite is a very pretty stone, it is fair to say that it has suffered from marketing excess more than any other gem. Effusive ad copy informs us that tanzanite was “formed more than 585 million years ago.” But of course all minerals are millions of years old. Tanzanite, we are told, is 1000 times rarer than diamond. But since diamond is hardly rare, we could say the same about tsavorite garnet and zircon and a number of other gems.
The successful marketing of tanzanite combined with limited supply to create astonishing prices for the gem in the market. For those who love colored gemstones, fine tanzanite certainly has its place. Predictions are that the mines in northern Tanzania will be worked out within 15 years, so it is certainly worth buying if you can find it a reasonable price (under $500 a carat). But buy tanzanite on its own merits and ignore the marketing hype.
About the Author
GemSelect is a leading online dealer in fine gemstones, specializing in sapphire, spinel, tourmaline, tanzanite, topaz and zircon. Fine Precious and Semi-Precious Gemstones
Paraiba Tourmaline Oval 10 x 7.5mm 2.16 Cts – WWW.PINKSTONE.COM.BR
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Stunning Color ! Natural Red Mozambique Paraiba Tourmaline Oval 1.57ct Gemstone $238.50 |
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1.17 ct. NATURAL COPPER BEARING BLUE PARAIBA TOURMALINE NR !! $79.00 |
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Natural Gem 0.37ct 5×4mm Oval Copper Bearing PARAIBA TOURMALINE, MOZAMBIQUE $1.29 |
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31.46 CT VIVID BICOLOR 100% NATURAL PARAIBA TOURMALINE ROUGH CRYSTAL $3,999.99 |
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Natural Gem 0.33ct 5×4mm Oval Copper Bearing PARAIBA TOURMALINE, MOZAMBIQUE $0.99 |
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Natural Gem 0.32ct 5.5×4mm Oval Copper Bearing PARAIBA TOURMALINE, MOZAMBIQUE $0.99 |
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Natural Gem 0.39ct 5.5×4mm Oval Copper Bearing PARAIBA TOURMALINE, MOZAMBIQUE $0.99 |
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0.91 cts 100% NATURAL BLUE PARAIBA TOURMALINE $199.99 |
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0.70 CTS BEAUTIFUL NATURAL BLUE NEON PARAIBA TOURMALINE $849.99 |
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3.48 CARATS NATURAL BLUE GREEN PARAIBA TOURMALINE $2,950.00 |
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1.09 CTS NATURAL NEON INDICOLITE PARAIBA TOURMALINE $799.99 |
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5.20ct.ELEGANT NATURAL GREENISH BLUE PARAIBA TOURMALINE $54.00 |
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2.15 CT BEAUTIFUL 100% NATURAL GREEN PARAIBA TOURMALINE $499.99 |
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1.43 CRT BEAUTIFUL NATURAL NEON BLUE PARAIBA TOURMALINE $699.99 |
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0.74 cts NATURAL NEON BLUE PARAIBA TOURMALINE $299.99 |
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2.20 CRT 100% NATURAL BLUE PARAIBA TOURMALINE. $299.99 |
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2.72 CT~AMAZING HI END COLOR ~COPPER BEARING ~NATURAL PARAIBA TOURMALINE $319.99 |
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5.13 CT ~AMAZING ! HUGE HI END ~COPPER BEARING~NATURAL PARAIBA TOURMALINE~UNHEAT $699.99 |
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Certified 25.17 Cts EXCELLENT NATURAL TOP LUSTER PARAIBA GREEN TOURMALINE $9,850.00 |
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Natural Copper Bearing Paraiba Tourmaline LooseGemstone $21.60 |
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Natural Green Copper Bearing Paraiba Tourmaline Gems $17.10 |
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2.24 CT.VERY RARE FLAWLESS NATURAL TRILLION MOZAMBIQUE BLUE PARAIBA TOURMALINE $414.81 |
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3.13cts Natural Paraiba Blue Tourmaline Loose Gems $261.00 |
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1.44cts Natural Paraiba Pink Tourmaline Loose Gemstone $15.00 |
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4cts Natural Blue Paraiba Tourmaline Loose Gemstone $360.00 |
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2.60cts Natural Paraiba Green Tourmaline Loose Gemstone $217.80 |
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14.30 Cts EXTREMLY NATURAL LUSTER RARE PARAIBA GREEN TOURMALINE $299.00 |
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2.16 CT COPPER BEARING PARAIBA TOURMALINE MOZAMBIQUE NATURAL!!! $299.99 |
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Natural Blue Copper Bearing Paraiba Tourmaline Pear Loose Gemstone $44.09 |
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Natural 2.52Cts Pink Copper Bearing Paraiba Tourmaline Oval Loose Gemstone $40.50 |
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2.11 cts NATURAL GREEN PARAIBA TOURMALINE $699.99 |
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2.34 CARATS 100% NATURAL BLUE COPPER BEARING PARAIBA TOURMALINE $1,999.99 |
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1.87 CRT BEAUTIFUL NATURAL NEON BLUE PARAIBA TOURMALINE $899.99 |
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6.99 CRT BEAUTIFUL 100% NATURAL BLUE PARAIBA TOURMALINE $5,999.99 |
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2.ct. R80 ARE!!! GREENISH BLUE NATURAL Paraiba TONE Tourmaline!!! $0.99 |
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1.31 CT. NATURAL GREENISH BLUE PARAIBA CLR TOURMALINE $0.99 |
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2.30CTS.NATURAL PARAIBA GREEN COPPER BEARING TOURMALINE OVAL AMAZING LOOSE GEMST $225.25 |
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Natural 1.34Cts Pink Copper Bearing Paraiba Tourmaline $33.30 |
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Top Natural Green Blue Paraiba Tourmaline Gemstone $42.30 |
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Excellent Natural 2.92Cts Green Copper Bearing Paraiba Tourmaline Loose Gemstone $43.20 |
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Natural 1.59Cts Pink Copper Bearing Paraiba Tourmaline Loose Gemstone $25.20 |
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Natural 1.73Cts Green Copper Bearing Paraiba Tourmaline Loose Gemstone $18.00 |
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Natural 4.14Cts Green Copper Bearing Paraiba Tourmaline Loose Gemstone 2Pcs $58.50 |
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3.19ct WONDERFUL BEST NATURAL NEON GREEN BLUE PARAIBA COLOR TOURMALINE GEMSTONES $300.00 |
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2.42 CARAT 100% NATURAL BLUE COPPER PARAIBA TOURMALINE $899.99 |
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3.83 CARATS NATURAL BLUE GREEN PARAIBA TOURMALINE $1,499.00 |
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1.11 CARATS NATURAL BLUE GREEN PARAIBA TOURMALINE $699.00 |
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IF 0.90 Ct Paraiba Blue Natural Tourmaline Gems $9.99 |
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0.87 CTS BEAUTIFUL 100% NATURAL BLUE PARAIBA TOURMALINE $299.99 |
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9.88 CARATS 100 % NATURAL GREEN PARAIBA TOURMALINE $2,900.00 |
