Mandarin Garnet: Shining Star of Garnet Family

Within a very short time after mandarin garnet appeared in the gemstone market, mandarin garnet had shot up into the firmament of jewelry industry. Hardly anyone can resist brilliant burnt orange colors, radiant reddish orange, or even orange red colors of mandarin garnet. A recent discovery of mandarin garnet Tanzania material continues shining spotlight over mandarin garnet.

Spessartite Garnet/ Mandarin Garnet

Spessartite, also called spessartine, is a member of the large and colorful garnet group. It was named after the Spessart district of Bavaria, Germany. Spessartite garnet can occur in yellowish orange through orange to reddish orange, brownish orange, red-orange, or orangy red to brownish red. Unlike many colored stones, spessartite garnet is not enhanced by any method.

Gem-quality spessartite garnet is uncommon. The sources of spessartite include Sri Lanka, Madagascar, Brazil, Afghanistan, Myanmar, East Africa and the United States (California).

Mandarin Garnet

Spessartite garnet was rare stone for gemstone lovers and collectors, and was unknown in jewelry because a stone with good color and quality was very scarce and found very rarely. However the discovery in Namibia seventeen years ago changed the gemstone world. In 1991, a deposit of orange to red spessartites was discovered in Namibia. The wonderful color and excellent brilliance of these stones are so unique. They were more beautiful than anything available before. Marketed under the trade name “Mandarin Garnet”, the orange to reddish orange gemstones immediately attracted attention and became world-famous within a very short time.

Another new find of spessartite from Nigeria entered the market in 1999. The orange mandarin garnets from Nigeria are exceptional fine and transparent. Though the new find enhances what is being offered in the market, top-quality mandarin garnets in large size are extremely rare.

What makes mandarin garnet so special? First there is its color, the splendid orange in a range of hues from bright orange to rich reddish orange of the last light of the evening. Besides its incomparable color, mandarin garnet has unusually magnificent brilliance which exceed only by diamond, zircon, and andradite garnet. This gemstone sparkles vividly in all lighting environments. In addition, there is its good hardness. With the hardness of 7 on the Mohs’ scale, mandarin garnet is suitable for everyday wear and is easy to care for. And of course, there is its rarity. Mandarin garnet is an ideal collector’s stone. Color, brilliance, hardness, and rarity make mandarin garnet a unique and special gemstone.

The most important sources of mandarin garnet today are Namibia and Nigeria.

Mandarin Garnet Mandarin Garnet 4.3ct Price =$2,150.00

Mandarin Garnet Mandarin Garnet 3.9ct Price =$1,950.00

Spessartite Garnet Spessartite Garnet 3.45ct Price =$789.00