WHAT IS TSAVORITE GARNET?
Nicknamed "the King of Garnets, " green tsavorite is a calcium-aluminum mineral and part of the grossularite branch of the garnet group. Tsavorite gains color from traces of chromium and vanadium oxide in the stone. Henry Platt christened the gem after Tsavo National Park in Kenya. Its gorgeous green shades can be a crisp green, vivid bluish-green or intense forest-green.
Decades after its discovery, tsavorite is considered one of the world's most prized and sought-after gems. Like demantoid garnet there is a shortage of tsavorite garnet, and, therefore, it is hard to find.
Determining Tsavorite Garnet Value
Is tsavorite garnet valuable? The value of colored stones is typically determined by a combination of its color, clarity, cut, and carat weight. This is no different when determining what tsavorite garnet is worth. These guidelines will help you choose garnet stones for your collection.
- Tsavorite Garnet Color
Color is the most important factor when it comes to colored gemstone beauty. Tsavorite garnet value is determined primarily from its saturation (a color’s strength and intensity) and tone (degree of darkness or lightness of a color) rather than hue (the first impression of an object’s basic color).
Tsavorite comes in a bright green ranging from fresh spring-green to deep forest-green. It is one of the world's most superb and beloved gemstones with limited availability.
- Tsavorite Garnet Clarity
Tsavorite garnet offered by Shop LC falls under the Type II clarity grade. This grade means that the stones have minor inclusions, somewhat easy to view with 10x magnification, but are otherwise usually eye clean. It does not have a major impact on the value of the gemstone as tsavorite garnet is scarce.
- Tsavorite Garnet Cut
Tsavorite garnet is mostly cut in the classic shapes such as round and oval. Fancy shapes like pear are also available. Square is also a typical cut.
- Tsavorite Garnet Carat
This stone size ranges from about 4 millimeters in round and up to 4mm in oval. As the size of the gemstone increases, the value of the gemstone grows too.
Tsavorite Garnet Treatment
What you see is what you get with tsavorite; no form of treatment is needed to achieve this brilliant emerald green.
Caring for Tsavorite Garnet
Tsavorite garnet ranks 7 to 7.5 on the Mohs scale of hardness, possessing fair to good toughness. It’s a durable gemstone perfect for daily wear. Tsavorite garnet’s reaction to different environmental factors determines its stability. When exposed to heat, sudden temperature change can cause fracturing. In different light sources, this gemstone stays stable. Chemicals, such as hydrofluoric acid, can damage the stone.
Ultrasonic cleaning is usually safe, but risky if the stone contains liquid inclusions. Avoid steam cleaning. Lukewarm water, dish soap, soft brush, dry cloth are the best ways to opt for this gemstone care and cleaning. Always, store each piece draped in a soft cloth and placed separately from other gemstone jewelry to avoid any scratches.
Who Can Wear Tsavorite Garnet?
Fair hardness makes garnet a perfect choice for multiple jewelry styles. The garnet finds its roots through history in beautiful tiara’s and necklaces of royals and celebrities. The intense forest green color of tsavorite garnet is a stylish choice, from formal wear to party outfits.
The saturated color of this gemstone is an excellent match with bright yellows, rich reds, classic black, delicate peach, and bubbly purples.
How Does Tsavorite Garnet Compare to Other Green Stones?
Green is an all-around, all-year color. While other green gemstones are loved for their grape green shade, grass green color or oceanic green hue, Tsavorite garnet stands apart with its rich forest green shade that impresses at first sight.
Consider this gemstone if you are a big fan of emerald, peridot, tourmaline or demantoid garnet.
Where Does Tsavorite Garnet Come From?
Campbell R. Bridges, a renowned Scottish geologist, first discovered tsavorite in Tanzania in 1967. Bridges later found a second deposit in the Tsavo region of Kenya in 1971. Tanzania and Kenya remain the two main mining sites for this gem. Four mining operations supply the global market. Shop LC obtains tsavorite from Block D of the Karo Mine located in the Arusha region of Tanzania. This mine is also home to Shop LC's tanzanite supply.
How is Tsavorite Garnet Mined?
Tsavorite garnet is closely related to tanzanite. Tsavorite garnet mining requires advanced methods and tools for extraction. The main difficulty in mining is locating places where the gemstone pockets are focused enough for mining to be productive.
Tsavorite Garnet Properties
What Does Tsavorite Garnet Mean?
Tsavorite garnet is considered a stone of prosperity and may help decrease anxiety about financial issues. A natural stress reliever, this gem is thought to bring happiness and help determine one's true life path or destiny while gaining fulfillment. Crystal healers use tsavorite to speed healing and cell growth. It is also used to address heart disorders.
The garnet family has a long history that dates to ancient Egypt Greece and Rome. In the Holy Bible, Noah used a lamp of garnet to guide his Ark through the darkness of night. The garnet was a symbol of one of the tribes of Israel. Ancient explorers and travelers wore garnets as an amulet to inspire success in commerce and ensure safe journeys.
Tribes in Asia used to make sling bullets from garnets, thinking that they caused greater wounds that took longer to heal. These bullets were used up until the 19th century. In medieval times people used garnets to ease depression, ward off bad dreams, and alleviate ailments of the liver. Garnet was also believed to soothe arthritis.
Garnet symbolizes purity, truth, love, and compassion.
Disclaimer: Use of any stone or mineral is not a substitute for professional medical care or treatment, and nothing herein constitutes medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Information provided should not be used to treat any illness, injury, medical condition, or ailment without prior consultation with a qualified health professional.
Is Tsavorite Garnet a Birthstone?
As a part of the garnet family, Tsavorite garnet is a modern birthstone for January. It’s an intriguing twentieth-century gem that can add zest to any jewelry collection.
Tsavorite Garnet Facts
- Ranks 7 to 7.5 on the Mohs hardness scale.
- Colors present crisp green vivid bluish-green or intense forest-green.
- Sourced from Karo Mine in Tanzania.
- Tsavorite garnet undergoes no additional treatment.
- Also known as tsavolite garnet.