The tanzanite is a spectacular gemstone that’s been used by leading jewelry brands, including Tiffany & Co. This gemstone makes some of the most beautiful pieces of jewelry, but can you wear it every day?
Keep reading to learn all there is about tanzanite as a gemstone and whether you can wear it every day or not.
What is tanzanite jewelry?
Tanzanite jewelry refers to the jewelry that’s made using the best quality tanzanite gemstones. But what is it, exactly?
Tanzanite refers to the violet-to-blue gemstone that is a form of the zoisite mineral. More specifically, it is a calcium alumina hydroxyl silicate that was discovered back in 1967 in the northern region of Tanzania. This gem was given the name the tanzanite by Tiffany’s, and on the popularity chart, it comes second to sapphires in the world of colored gemstones.
This gemstone is often used in the finest of jewelry, including earrings, pendants, and even bracelets or rings.
Can tanzanite be worn every day?
To determine whether you could wear the tanzanite gemstones daily or not, the first thing that you need to consider is the hardness of the mineral or the gemstone as measured in the Moh’s Scale (Mineral of Hardness). On this scale, diamond is ranked a 10, making it the hardest material, while talc is rated a 1. Tanzanite lies somewhere on the scale sitting between 6-7, with a hardness level similar to Moonstones and the garnet.
What this means is that in as much as the tanzanite isn’t a gem, this gem will not break off easily. However, the gemstone could be scratched easily compared to the other hard, colored gemstones like the sapphire or rubies.
So, as a result of the relative softness of tanzanite, you’d have to handle the tanzanite jewelry with care (and respect). Therefore, like the other colored gemstones, you shouldn’t wear tanzanite jewelry every day, especially when you have to do rough or heavy work like gardening, cleaning, as well as performing sports activities. Also, you need to avoid keeping the gemstone in contact with any gritty substances. You should also remove your tanzanite jewelry when swimming because contact with chlorine in the pool water would be damaging.
If you have jewelry made of gemstones in the 6-7 hardness category, you should know straight off the bat that the jewelry should only be worn occasionally. So, if you are looking for an engagement or a wedding ring that can be worn almost every day rather than occasionally, then jewelry made with a gemstone in the 8-10 hardness level would be a good option. Some of these hard gemstones, besides diamonds, include the ruby, Sapphire, Topaz, Spinel, Alexandrite, and the Cat’s Eye.
The good news is that you can wear a tanzanite pendant every day despite its softness. The tanzanite is, therefore, a preferable option for you if you are looking for jewelry that you can wear on occasion.
In case you keep the tanzanite ring on and expose it to little harsh conditions, you shouldn’t worry about the ring getting damaged because it is resistant to light, heat, and some of the common chemicals. Just be careful not to expose the ring to sudden high or low-temperature changes. Also, avoid exposing it to hydrofluoric or hydrochloric acids.
Which finger to wear tanzanite?
Tanzanite gemstones are believed to contain positive energy, and the energy of the tanzanite is believed to go straight into your heart. With this in mind, the 4th finger on your left hand is often the ideal finger to wear the tanzanite. But the ring finger-heart-connection could easily be a myth given its ties to the ancient Roman culture and beliefs. But what’s the meaning of the tanzanite ring’s blue color?
Well, the Egyptians firmly believed that the gemstones were energy conduits containing energies, and by placing colorful gemstones on the wedding ring, it means that you are inviting the energies to enter your life and your marriage.
What is the blue tanzanite all about?
This rare gemstone is a pleochroic gem that comes in different colors, from sapphire blue to violet and even burgundy.
This gemstone has been regarded as the ‘stone of magic.’ Wearing the ring on your finger also means that your life together would be a fairytale life in real life. So, if you are to wear blue tanzanite, the 4th finger on your left hand would be more ideal.
How to take care of your tanzanite jewelry
Safe conditions – Your tanzanite gemstone has a hardness level of between 6 and 7, which means that it’s not the toughest gemstone. It also features a property called cleavage, representing the gemstone’s tendency to crack easily when it’s struck. It is not as hard or even as tough as a sapphire, which means that you shouldn’t wear the gemstone roughly. You should keep it from hard blows too.
Tanzanite is also quite stable under normal conditions, meaning that it’s quite resistant to the effect of light, heat, or chemicals. However, you can’t subject tanzanite gemstone to high or sudden temperature changes.
Cleaning – To keep it clean, use warm, soapy water. And never use steam or ultrasonic cleaners when cleaning your tanzanite jewelry because the high-frequency vibrations and the high heat from cleaning would affect the tanzanite’s cleavage. You could use a soft-bristled toothbrush to clean it gently and to ensure that the nooks and crannies are reached. To polish off the fingerprints, you’d want to clean it using a soft cloth.
Re-polishing – To re-polish tanzanite jewelry and to remove scratches from the gemstones, polish it up carefully or get the polishing done by the professionals.
Storage – Regarding storage, keep tanzanite jewelry in a pouch, box, or a bag to stop the gemstone from rubbing against scratching and to keep it and other kinds of jewelry safe. You should also keep the earrings apart even if they are a pair.
Resetting – given the softness and the cleavage of tanzanites, resetting the loose gemstone would require the handy work of the bench-jeweler rather than a jeweler who deals with diamonds.
Conclusion
If you have tanzanite jewelry, these tips will help you keep the jewelry safe and secure. For more tips, please visit here or here.See you guys in the next post!
Stephanie is a jewelry lover when she was a teenager. Her major was fashion design when she was in college. She is a jewelry designer at SOQ Jewelry and other design companies. Now she is also a writer for our website. She writes a lot of designs&brands posts with very actionable tips.