By IANS
Jaipur : The rich and famous in the US are flaunting their tanzanite jewellery. Film stars like Salma Hayek, Elle MacPherson and Teri Hatcher are wearing it. Indians, too, will soon have their chance to buy this rare gem if trade bodies are able to successfully promote it in the country.
The Tanzanite Foundation and Jaipur jewellery Show (JJS) have decided to work together to promote tanzanite in the next two years at trade shows, as well as through collaborations with some of India’s leading jewellery designers and brands.
Tanzanite, a rare and precious blue-violet gemstone founded in foothills of Mount Kilimanjaro in Tanzania, is already a darling of the US market, where it sells at prices as high as $2,000 to $3,500 a carat.
Sarah Cort of the Tanzanite Foundation said: “We are excited about collaborating with the Jaipur Jewellery Show to build and grow the demand for tanzanite in the Indian market.
“After all, nearly all tanzanite is cut and polished in Jaipur. Yet there is very little knowledge of the gem in the local market. We see huge potential to promote and drive sales of this unique gem and its wonderful story,” she added.
Vimal Chand Surana, convener of Jaipur Jewellery Show, said: “Tanzanite has played a role in the Indian market since a large number of Indian dealers are involved in its processing and marketing.”
“The thrust to be given in 2008 and 2009 will imbue a new life into the beautiful stone,” said Rajiv Jain of the Jaipur Jewellery Show.
“India is an emerging market and we need to create awareness of this rarer than rarest stone in India,” he added.