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JTv''''s claim-Is it true with Tanzanite?

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Loriann

Loriann

Rough_Rock
Joined
Mar 6, 2006
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33
Hello everyone. I have been watching this show on and off lately and have been watching JTV push the tanzanite like there is no tomorrow for this stone. I haven''t watched for about a week, and today I noticed that they are not selling the loose stones.I went back in their archives and it appears that they haven''t for a week now. They have some jewlery, but the host was saying today that they cannot get any more loose stones due to the mines being closed and that the prices are "sky rocketing". I couldn''t find any evidence of that on the internet, but thought to ask you all if you have experienced a price increase in the stone or have heard any news regarding no more rough? Thanks!
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I kept hearing them say that too, but didn''t pay too much attention to it.

Maybe someone will let us know what is happening.


Linda
 
Hi All,
JTV, the company I have a love-hate relationship with. Yes, they removed all tanzanite stones off the air. They were very mysterious. Big Changes Coming, will revolutionize the tanzanite industry. But it''s a secret now. Finally they spoke up. It is on the internet if you know what you''re looking for. Anyhow, what the fuss is about is the Tanzanian government is not allowing stones of more than one carat to be exported out of the country. It is going to cut the stones in Tanzania instead of sending them to India to be cut. I don''t think Tanzanite One has anything to say about it. So a shipment was cancelled and JTV has no more loose tanzanite except poor quality stuff. They wil definitey go into withdrawal now. We should expect some bizzare behavior.
Anyway, the upshot is the cutting is going to be terrible and stones will have to be recut, thus increasing the per carat price.
On ebay some vendor said that Tanzanit One was goint to intsitute a price scale at $2000,00 per carat for the the lighter stuff. I don''t know if this is true.
Gee I''m so glad I could contribute. Annette C
 
Good Grief. Thank you for the info. I see on JTV website, under gemstones that they still have Tanzanite listed for sale. though. Wonder if they will pull those too.

I still have two loose dark stones that my hubby and I purchased in Mexico a few years ago. Great color and quality. I am hanging on to those, for what I don''t know. :)

Linda
 
This year at Tucson, there was tanzanite for sale everywhere, in every size range and color. Typically the prices were about half of what they were getting last night on the Gem shopping channel with Marvin.
 
Gem shopping prices on Tanzanite are over the edge.

Gene are you saying all of this is hype then???

Linda
 
Hello All,

Just my thoughts. You are correct that the Tanzanian Government isn''t going to let any rough out of the country large enough to cut over a 1ct stone and that Tanzanite One is going to monopolize the stone and the Jewelery Channel used to make great buys and stock up on the tanzanite. They are actually the ones (I beleive) that made it a main stream gem. Since they can''t do that anymore they are focusin their attention to Red Andesine/Laboradite. I have heard they stocked up on it and signed a 10 year exclusive agreement to receive all the production from the mine for the next 10 years. They have already raise the price from about $30 to now $125/ct for Good Red stones. I think they will continue to raise the price to the levels of tanzanite. The stones are only found in gem quality in Tibet, Congo and a Oregon. Only the best Oregon stones compare to the color of Tibetan and Congo sunstone but the Oregon stones have more pop due to a higher refractive index. The stones are much rarer than tanzanite so it is easier to control the market buy controlling both supply and market hype-demand.

Regards,
Maurice
 
Maurice,

Thank you so much for this information. I am glad I have been purchasing my Andesine/Labradorite stones.
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Linda
 
I bought a tanzanite ring in the Bahamas a few years back. I also heard that exports were being stopped, the mines were flooded and no stones were coming out. I also heard, distressingly, and I cannot recall where, that the money from the sale of the stone was being used to fund terrorism or something. Tanzanite only comes from the one place so there is no getting around it. Louis Tiffany apparently discovered it and brought it back to the states, which I thought was interesting. They have some amazingly colored pieces in their store!
 
Tiffany is the company that brought tanzanite mainstream (popularized in the 1970s). I believe they may have even named it. The mineral name is zoisite.

Prices have increased in the past year tremendously.
 
Date: 4/20/2006 12:44:31 AM
Author: diamondfan
I bought a tanzanite ring in the Bahamas a few years back. I also heard that exports were being stopped, the mines were flooded and no stones were coming out. I also heard, distressingly, and I cannot recall where, that the money from the sale of the stone was being used to fund terrorism or something. Tanzanite only comes from the one place so there is no getting around it. Louis Tiffany apparently discovered it and brought it back to the states, which I thought was interesting. They have some amazingly colored pieces in their store!
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The mines were flooded in 1998 causing a shortage in supply and price spike that year. THe terrorism connection was charged in 2002, was untrue and proven so back in 2003. The price of tanzanite dropped to $125/ct wholesale in Bankok during that time.

When I mean the shoping channels brought it mainstream I don''t mean discovered it, named it or first put it in jewelry but brought the hype and brought it to the attention of the average person. Really not many average people keep track of tiffany''s.

Regards,
Maurice
 
Date: 4/20/2006 2:49:09 AM
Author: riogems
Tiffany is the company that brought tanzanite mainstream (popularized in the 1970s). I believe they may have even named it. The mineral name is zoisite.

Prices have increased in the past year tremendously.
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Riogems,

Please see my post above on tanzanite mainstream. The past year prices have dropped for tanzanite at Tuscon. I see lower pricing than I did the prior year. The 70''s was the altime high for tanzanite prices when it was only Tiffany''s selling it. It was $2,000/ct and that is why now one in the general population paid much attention to it.

Regards,
Maurice
 
The Tiffany''s in downtown Philadelphia has a special Tanzanite exhibit from now through May 13. None of the items I looked at cost less than $22000.00 USD.
 
I have often wondered about these great deals people report of getting in the Bahama''s and other islands. Maurice, do you have an reason why? Your up on everything. No stones are mined there, it makes no sense why prices would be any cheaper. My thought always was, that since they are selling to for the most part one time tourist, scams and fakes are no problem. For the most part, buyers of jewelery and gems are at the mercy of the seller. Most buyers have no idea of what things should cost, what a stone should look like, a fake from a lab from a natural... etc. These are the same countries where "ganga" is sold on the beaches to tourist.
 
I suspect that one reason for the low prices in the islands is due to no (or very low) import duties/taxes.
 
Spesspartite garnet on the avitar Movie

I am not aware of any special taxes and duties on gems as there are on cigars and alchol
 
Date: 4/20/2006 10:30:24 AM
Author: Madam Bijoux
I suspect that one reason for the low prices in the islands is due to no (or very low) import duties/taxes.
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True, but it''s a myth there is duty on gems entering the U.S. There are no import duties or taxes on rough or cut gemstones entering this country either. I import stones all the time so am aware of the law.

It''s perfectly legal to bring gems into the U.S. duty-free as long as they''re declared on the Customs form. Many tourists smuggle gems into this country when they don''t need to, and that''s where they can get into trouble with the law.

I believe the islands earned a reputation as a good place to buy Brazilian gems and Colombian emeralds. I think smuggling definitely played a role in the price of the latter since only a small percentage of emeralds that are mined in Colombia are reported to the government. I know for sure big Brazilian gem firms like Amsterdam & Sauer actively sell in the islands. Popular gems like Tanzanite came later.

My rich brother-in-law has a permanent residence in St. Maarten, and he''s a careful shopper. He buys his diamonds and other gems/jewelry in the States. He doesn''t seem to trust some of the island sellers who, he says, tend to take advantage of tourists, already on a holiday high, who think they''re getting "deals." That''s not always the case.

Richard M.
 
Date: 4/20/2006 9:35:28 AM
Author: PrecisionGem
I have often wondered about these great deals people report of getting in the Bahama''s and other islands. Maurice, do you have an reason why? Your up on everything. No stones are mined there, it makes no sense why prices would be any cheaper. My thought always was, that since they are selling to for the most part one time tourist, scams and fakes are no problem. For the most part, buyers of jewelery and gems are at the mercy of the seller. Most buyers have no idea of what things should cost, what a stone should look like, a fake from a lab from a natural... etc. These are the same countries where ''ganga'' is sold on the beaches to tourist.
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Hi Gene,

Again this is my opinion but I beleive a couple of buyers got together in the islands and bought very large parcels cheap. This was done when there was no controls on the mines and the stones were smuggled out of Tanzania illegally (before export duties were paid) It was a lawless community and everyone was invading eachothers space. Stones were plentiful in Arusha and they were competing against themselfs to sell the stones. The island companies saw this as an opportunity to buy cheap and sell cheaper than the US, to tourists. Tourists expect to spend money on vacation and are easier to sell to plus there are more coming every day from planes and cruise ships. There rents were also much less than the big cities in the US. They could sell for less per stone by buying in bulk and selling in volume. Now that the internet is around it is harder for them to compete unless they still have old stones in their inventory so they sell lower quality goods (they recently bought) at normal prices since the word was out what a wonderful deal they got years ago in the islands.

Just my opinion,
Maurice
 
MJO...I was just adding my .02 because I had never really paid much attention to tanzanite. i just reset the one I bought. It is approx 3 carats, a cushion, with gorgeous deep blue/purple color and I set it in a halo type setting. The setting I got it in was cheapie and cruddy so I wanted to make it look current. Is it true that they are like emeralds in terms of fragility...scary, I heard they can just combust in your jewelry box!!
 
Date: 4/20/2006 12:27:24 PM
Author: diamondfan
MJO...I was just adding my .02 because I had never really paid much attention to tanzanite. i just reset the one I bought. It is approx 3 carats, a cushion, with gorgeous deep blue/purple color and I set it in a halo type setting. The setting I got it in was cheapie and cruddy so I wanted to make it look current. Is it true that they are like emeralds in terms of fragility...scary, I heard they can just combust in your jewelry box!!
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Hi Diamondfan,

No that is not correct. No stone will combust unless there is a large water inclussion in it and the temperature raises substantially. Alot of stone will crack or shatter if there is a sudden change in temperature like comming in from the freezing weather with no insulation right to infront of a burning fireplace. Emeralds are not all that fragile either. It''s the inclussions in them that make them break easily. The better stones don''t break as easily.

Regards,
Maurice
 
Diamondfan,


Just be easy on your ring when you wear it. The slightest bang will chip it. They are fragile stones. I only wear mine on special occasions, like on "dates" with my hubby. If I had to do it again, I would have made it into a pendant.


Linda
 
Hi Maurice,

From what I saw at Tucson, Tanzanite prices were up 30-50% in 2006 compared to the Tucson show in 2004. I don''t remember prices from 2005.
 
Regarding people in the islands buying in big lots cheap -- I doubt this. Most of these island shops buy jewelry already made from US/International wholesalers/manufacturers. Like most gems, tanzanite comes in a wide range of qualities/prices. While I''m sure there is a variety of quality stores, the bulk of it is probably comparable to home/tv shopping -- which uses medium to low grade stones. I believe the price of tanzanite dipped in the 1999/2000 timeframe, when people were afraid of a possible link to funding terrorism, and since those fears have been quelched it has risen steadily since then.
 
Date: 4/20/2006 2:40:04 PM
Author: riogems
Regarding people in the islands buying in big lots cheap -- I doubt this. Most of these island shops buy jewelry already made from US/International wholesalers/manufacturers. Like most gems, tanzanite comes in a wide range of qualities/prices. While I''m sure there is a variety of quality stores, the bulk of it is probably comparable to home/tv shopping -- which uses medium to low grade stones. I believe the price of tanzanite dipped in the 1999/2000 timeframe, when people were afraid of a possible link to funding terrorism, and since those fears have been quelched it has risen steadily since then.
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Hello Riogems,

I know the drop in tanzanite for possible terror funding was the end of 2001 to the beginning of 2002. It was after Sept 11, 2001. The price in Thailand dropped to $125/ct and I was able to get it here in the US for $250/ct for the best stones. I got many 5 to 10ct top stones. In 2003 the pirces rebounded to about $350 - $385/ct and in 2004 - 2005 they jumped to $650/ct when it was anounced that Tanzanite One was making the deal with the tanzanian gov and that the deal was going through. The price has now settled to about $500/ct here but in special circumstanaces where the seller needs money fast you can get them for $350/ct.

In the islands there is a large chain of jewelry stores (I forget the name). They seem to be in every major hotel and on every corner. These are the ones I''m talking about how buy in bulk. The smaller stores are there just to scrap out a living.

Regards,
Maurice
 
Date: 4/20/2006 12:27:24 PM
Author: diamondfan

Is it true that they are like emeralds in terms of fragility...scary, I heard they can just combust in your jewelry box!!
Click to expand...

Hell, no.... and emeralds are by no means ''scary'' to wear. C''mon... Who comes up with this sort of stuff?
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Btw. Interesting story about liquid inclusions bursting under heat (a jeweler''s torch?). Have yet to see some large two-faze inclusion in tanzanite... and would love to. Please not that it would be a super rare oddity interesting for a gem freak just great to take dazzling microphotographs of.
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Definitely not a ''scare'' to think twice about when buying tanzanite. All more so since these stones are already heated!
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MJO and Linda, that is why I did the halo setting because it was chipped a touch on the edge...the four prong setting was not protecting the sides of the stone and it was not great. Now it is a bit more protected...I meant, when I said combust, that my insurance people told me that they have gotten calls about tanzanite and emerald rings being damaged that were in the box, and that they are softer less durable stones. The gasses in the emeralds can cause fractures and I was concerned aobut the nature of tanzanites as well...
 
Diamondfan,

Great idea about the Halo. Can you post a picture of it? I had mine set in a Bezel setting, but I still get afraid of cracking it.

I would love to see your setting.


Linda
 
I am without a digital camera at the moment but I will do my best to get it taken by someone...I have to get some other pictures to post too! I love the setting now, it was so dated and tacky looking when I got it, but I had loved the fact that the stone had these deep gorgeous hue (most tanzanites I had seen were more washed out lilac looking) and that it was a cushion shape. I was so happy with that aspect that the setting did not bother me too much. I did not love it though, and the chip sealed the deal! I will try to get to it soon...
 
Hi Linda. Have you tried the faceted parcels recently from JTV? I have received so many beautiful red labradorite/andesine in the mix that I returned the 3 I purchased.

Thanks for everyone''s insite on the tanzanite. What about the "grading system" for this stone they are talking about on JTV? Has anyone seen this yet? Thanks again, Lorriann
 
Hi Lorrian,

No, I haven''t bought any of their parcels. I have so many gemstones here already. I did buy two of their Tanzanites though when they were going to stop selling them. They are beautiful and deep deep blue with gorgeous flashes of red. I want to get them appraised. I am sure they are worth more than what I paid for them.

I have no idea what the grading system is now, but I like Tanzanite and also Andesine. I also like Emeralds. Oh yes and pink diamonds. Gee, I don''t like much do I? ha ha ha ha ha.

Have you made any of your stones into jewelry?

Linda
 
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