Tanzanite’s Story Gets the Publishing Treatment

experience ran the full range from the mining operation to dealers and designers and everything in between--really bridging the gap between what went on at the mine to how these exquisite gems found themselves into the jewelry boxes of the most discerning jewelry and gem collectors.

Erica Courtney’s 18-karat gold tanzanite and diamond “Shayne” earrings 
Also, given that tanzanite is more popular now than ever before, and nothing like this has been done before, we thought it was time to showcase some of the most exquisite tanzanite jewels, and their designers, and put them together in this unusual compilation.  

Didier Brodbeck has done quite a number of gem and jewelry books already and after we met a few years ago in Paris, we started talking about doing something with tanzanite. Two years later, literally hundreds of emails back and forth, and even more Skype calls, we proudly launched Tanzanite: Born From Lighting.  

NJ: Can you give any examples about what kind of personal accounts and experiences from the prospectors are included in the book?

HH: There are a quite a few poignant and important personalities in the short history of tanzanite since its discovery in 1967. One of these gentlemen is the late Campbell Bridges, who, amongst so many of his incredible achievements, is noted for the introduction of tanzanite (and tsavorite) to Tiffany & Co. in the late ‘60s. There is a memoir from Campbell in the book kindly given to us by his son, Bruce Bridges.

There is also a story told by John Saul, who was also amongst the original dealers of tanzanite in the early days--his account comes from an article he wrote for Life magazine in early 1970, shortly after tanzanite was discovered. There are some other fun stories too, but one needs to turn the pages to see who else has contributed.

NJ: How do you think that adding tanzanite to the birthstone list has affected the gem?

HH: The official list of birthstones had been unchanged since the early 1900s, so when tanzanite was added as the birthstone for the month of December, not only did it give tanzanite a place amongst other birthstones, but it also gave it a recognition well overdue and very much deserved. It was also recognized as being important enough for the American Gem Trade Association to reopen the birthstone files to make the change. Because tanzanite is so rare and will only be around for one generation, we say that it is not only the official birthstone for December, but it is the birthstone for all babies born between 1967 and 2030, which are known to be the years in which tanzanite will be mined.  

NJ: What do you think is the future of the stone?

HH: Tanzanite is a non-renewable resource from only one place in the world. This alone speaks of its rarity, not to mention the incredible and exquisite color! Like with anything that has a limited availability, we see it getting more and more sought after as the years go on. Also, with recognition, tanzanite grows in popularity--as designers work with more and more tanzanite, and people become more acquainted with the stone, it becomes harder and harder to resist. From a price point of view, the opportunities are endless. There is no other natural gemstone with the same attributes (color, size potential, rarity) that compares.