Spessartite
Garnet
The name, spessartite or spessartine, is derived from the location of its original discovery in the Spessart Mountains in the Aschaffenburg district of Bavaria, Germany. The color of spessartine garnet ranges from yellow through orange to red, some material appearing brownish. The color prized most highly is an electric orange that is visually stunning. Mandarin garnet is the trade name for this bright orange variety of spessartine.
General Information
Tolerance:(+0.004/-0.020)
LWUV: Inert
Spessartite Colors
-
Yellow -
Red -
Orange
Alternate Names
Spessartite Garnet, Mandarin Garnet If Bright Orange
Countries of Origin
Tanzania, United Republic Of; Myanmar; United States of America (the); Sri Lanka; Madagascar; Zambia; Thailand; India; Mozambique; Unknown; Malawi; China; Namibia; Brazil; Nigeria; Tajikistan
History
If you enjoy warm colors, this is the garnet for you. Ranging in color from mandarin orange to a southwest-sunset, reddish-orange shade, this stone will warm any ensemble. It's a great stone for winter wear, but don't leave it in your jewelry box in summer. A pretty dress, straw hat, and sandals - with one of the spessartine beauties - say summer in capital letters!
Care
Normal care
Optical Phenomena
Cat’s-Eye Spessartine Garnet
Cat’s-eye spessartine garnet has a singular light band on the surface of a gemstone created when light encounters hollow tubes, or parallel fibrous, or needle-like, inclusions within its crystal structure. Light that strikes the inclusions within the gem reflects off the inclusions, creating a narrow band of light. One known location is Namibia, but stones have been reported from Brazil and Sri Lanka.