How much is tanzanite worth? Price per carat
In 2026, commercial tanzanite trades from roughly €120 to €300 per carat, good blue material from about €300 to €700 per carat, and fine vivid violet-blue stones from around €700 to €1,500 per carat. Price per carat rises steeply with size: the same quality in 5 carats costs far more per carat than in 1 carat.
- Colour carries most of the value; saturation matters more than size.
- Price per carat is not linear — a 5 ct stone costs more per carat than five 1 ct stones.
- Eye-clean is the expectation, so clarity rarely adds value, but visible inclusions subtract.
- Always compare stones at the same colour grade, size and cut quality, or the numbers are meaningless.
Indicative prices per carat
The figures below are guide ranges for loose, heated, eye-clean stones in good cuts. They move with the supply of fine rough and should be treated as a starting point for comparison, not a valuation of a specific stone.
| Quality | 1–2 ct | 2–5 ct | 5 ct + |
|---|---|---|---|
| Commercial: pale or greyish blue | €120–250 | €180–350 | €250–450 |
| Good: clearly blue, medium tone | €300–500 | €450–750 | €650–1,000 |
| Fine: vivid violet-blue | €550–900 | €800–1,300 | €1,100–1,800 |
| Exceptional: vivid blue, top saturation | €900+ | €1,400+ | €2,000+ |
What actually moves the price
Colour decides most of it. A vivid violet-blue stone can be worth five times a pale one of identical weight and cut. Tone matters too: very dark stones look inky under evening light and sell for less than they measure on paper.
Size multiplies the effect, because fine rough large enough to cut a clean 5 carat stone is genuinely scarce. Cut quality is the quiet factor: a stone cut deep to save weight can lose a whole colour grade in how it faces up. Clarity is mostly a pass-or-fail test — tanzanite is expected to be eye-clean, and a visible inclusion is a discount, not a feature.
How to compare two quotes
Put both stones on the same terms before comparing money. Ask for exact millimetre dimensions, not only carat weight, since two 3 carat stones can face up a full size apart. Ask whether the colour was assessed in daylight or under a lamp. Ask what the stone looks like after an hour in ordinary indoor light — dark stones flatter themselves under bright spotlights.
Our guide to colour grading explains the vocabulary sellers use, and why "AAA" on its own tells you nothing.
Where the market is going
Supply comes from a single deposit that is mined at increasing depth, and Tanzania restricts exports of rough so that cutting happens locally. Fine blue material in larger sizes has become steadily harder to replace. That is a description of the supply picture, not a forecast: gem prices also depend on demand, currencies and fashion, and fine stones are illiquid compared with listed assets.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a 1 carat tanzanite cost?
Roughly €120 to €250 per carat for pale commercial material and €550 to €900 for a fine vivid violet-blue stone. Quality spreads prices far more than weight at this size.
Why is a 5 carat tanzanite so much more expensive per carat?
Because rough large and clean enough to yield a fine 5 carat stone is rare. Cutting losses are high, and most rough never produces a large eye-clean stone at all.
Does heat treatment lower the value of tanzanite?
Barely, because almost all tanzanite on the market is heated and the trade prices accordingly. Certified unheated blue tanzanite is a rarity that commands a premium.
Is tanzanite a good investment?
We do not give investment advice. What we can say factually: supply comes from one deposit, fine large stones are scarce, and gems are illiquid, slow to sell and priced individually rather than on a market index.
Stones currently available
Each one graded, measured and listed individually.
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