Unheated Tanzanite is brown and is hard to come by. It does not turn blue purple until it is heated. Tanzanite is considered one of the rarest gemstones on earth and only found in a very small area of Tanzania. That being said, why is it so much more affordable compared to Diamonds? The nickname for Tanzanite is "Gemstone of a Generation" since it is predicted that this generation will be the last generation to purchase stones from the primary market before the sources are exhausted. Because Tanzanite has a tendency to chip easily, it is best to avoide harsh chemicals and untrasonic cleaning. 

We also offer a Synthetic Tanzanite which is more durable than the natural variety that is much more affordable.