Tanzanite vs Amethyst: What is the Difference?

Due to the color similarities, one of the questions we get here at Moriarty's Gem Art is "What is the difference between Tanzanite and Amethyst?" We wanted to dive into this topic and explain the main differences between these two amazing stones. Both are very popular gemstones which we sell every day, but there are some key differences you should know before deciding on which to purchase.

The Color

Amethyst is typically a very rich purple color. Depending on the price of the stone, it can be a light lavender to a deep violet. Deeper colors are preferred. Tanzanite on the other hand normally ranges in color from blues to different shades of violet. But Tanzanite is also available in other fancy colors such as yellow, green and pink.

The Hardness

Amethyst measure a 7 on the Mohs scale of hardness. Tanzanite is a 6.5-7. Both fairly hard and can easily be worn in rings, pendants and earrings.

Rarity of the Gem

This is where a big difference comes into play. Amethyst is readily available around the world. From small sizes to large. Tanzanite is much more rare, only coming from one area of the world in Tanzania. Mostly in smaller sizes.

Origin

As mentioned earlier, Amethyst can be found all over the world. Tanzanite is only found in Tanzania.

Value

Because Amethyst isn't as rare, it is a very budget friendly gemstone. It can be more expensive though depending on the depth of color and brilliance. Tanzanite is much more expensive due to the rarity of the gemstone. This is especially true in higher quality gemstones or natural colors.

Heat Treatment

Amethyst isn't normally heat treated, but can sometimes be. Tanzanite is much more likely to be heat treated to get the blue and purple colors. Though rare, Tanzanite can also be found naturally blue and purple. We do sell those from time to time, but they come at a higher price tag.

Crystal Structure

Amethyst belongs to the quartz family, with a trigonal crystal system. Tanzanite is variety of the mineral zoisite, with an orthorhombic crystal system.

We do hope this helps to answer some of your questions regarding the differences between Amethyst and Tanzanite. If you do have more questions, please do not hesitate to reach out to our team!