Breaking Records and Changing Lives: The Journey of the World's Largest Tanzanite Sculpture for Maasai Vision.

New York City artist Naomi Sarna achieved a Guinness World Record with her tanzanite sculpture, "L'Heure Bleu," tipping the scales at an impressive 703 carats. The piece, verified at Oregon's Rice Northwest Museum of Rocks & Minerals, stands out as the largest cut tanzanite ever recorded.

Sarna's journey began with an invitation to the tanzanite mines beneath Mt. Kilimanjaro in Tanzania. This unique location is the sole source of the stunning blue-violet gemstone. Tasked with crafting a sculpture for a global contest that would also aid the Maasai people, she selected from several sizable crystals to bring her vision to life.

Her creation, "L'Heure Bleu" — French for The Blue Hour, referencing the twilight period — secured a First-Place Spectrum Award from the American Gem Trade Association. The sculpture features a whimsical sterling silver base, reflecting the Tanzanian Great Rift Valley's breezes, measuring 6 inches in height, 4 3/4 inches in width, and 2 inches in depth.

Sarna's trip also led to meaningful interactions with Maasai women, sharing skills in wire-wrap jewelry making with tanzanite. She learned about the community's battle with trachoma, a vision-threatening infection.

Committed to making a difference, Sarna vows to donate profits from the sculpture's sale to the Casey Eye Institute in Portland, aiding the Maasai's vision care. This record-setting achievement not only brings fame to "L'Heure Bleu" but also supports a noble cause, promising a brighter future for the Maasai community through improved eye health.