Tanzanite is the purple-blue variety of the mineral zoisite and has a hardness of 6 to 7 on the Mohs scale.
The gemstone was named tanzanite by Tiffany & Co to honor its only country of origin, Tanzania.
Along with zircon, tanzanite is the birthstone of the month of December.
It symbolizes confidence, individuality and prosperity.
The gemstone is a relatively recent discovery, only in 1967 was it first found in the hills of Merelani, Tanzania. Want to learn more about gemstones? GIA is our trusted source for gemstone information.