Tanzanite was formed approximately 585 million years ago, yet this remarkable treasure remained hidden beneath the earth’s surface until just 47 years ago (1967), when according to local tribesmen, a Maasai herding his cattle in Tanzania stumbled upon some crystals on the ground. While the exact story of Tanzanite’s discovery remains a mystery, Maasai communities have built their own legends about the miraculous find. They explain how the land was set ablaze by a bolt of lightning and believe that it was the heat from this ‘magic fire in the sky’ that transformed the crystals on the ground into shimmering blue-violet gems. Initially it was believed that the gemstones were unusually vibrant Sapphires, but it was soon confirmed that the new stones were more complex than Sapphires, with a color exotic and intriguing.
A short time after the discovery, Tiffany & Co. heard about this new gemstone find in Tanzania and they sparked an enthusiastic reaction. ‘This gemstone is a sensation!’, they said. Tiffany & Co. christened the new find “Tanzanite” after its country of origin and declared it to be “the most beautiful blue stone to be discovered in 2000 years.” The gemstone is still hugely popular with Tiffany & Co. customers today.