mandarin garnet
BUYER’S OVERVIEW:
Mandarin Garnet (Spessartite) is considered to be a semi-precious gemstone. While limited in nature, some good size stones are available. Mandarin Garnet is a striking orange color combined with tremendous brilliance that makes it very special. The Spessartite family are brilliant gems that has a refractive index higher than sapphire. In fact only zircon, sphene, and diamond are higher on the refractive index scale. Mandarin garnet is highly regarded for its good hardness and excellent durability. Spessartite is among a small group of ideochromatic gems, which are colored by a fundamental element in their composition rather than by impurities. It is one of the few gems that have no enhancements.
Spessartite Garnet is transparent and available in a narrow range of naturally occurring colors from yellowish orange to reddish orange. Mandarin (Spessartite) Garnet only comes in a true tangerine orange or “mandarin” color – any hint of yellow or red in the orange makes the stone a Spessartite rather than a Mandarin Garnet.
COLOR:
Tangerine or mandarin orange (Mandarin Garnet), yellowish orange to reddish orange (Spessartite Garnet).
APPEARANCE:
Transparent to opaque Spessartite Garnet is a Type II gemstone and is usually included.
SIZE RANGE:
1 – 10 carats.
POSSIBLE ENHANCEMENTS & TREATMENTS:
Spessartite Garnet has no known enhancements.
HARDNESS:
7 to 7½ on the Mohs scale.
BEST USE OF THE GEMSTONE:
Spessartite Garnet can be used in all types of jewelry.
CARE & CLEANING:
It is best to never expose colored gemstones to cleaning solvents or chemicals of any kind.
Common cleaning methods include:
Ultrasonic: risky
Steamer: never
Warm soapy water: safe
Reaction to Chemicals: can be damaged by acids.
Reaction to Heat: fast temperature changes may fracture it.
Stability to Light: stable after prolonged exposure to sunlight or UV light.
INTERESTING FACTS ABOUT THIS GEMSTONE:
Spessartite is a brilliant gem that has a refractive index even higher than sapphire. In fact only sphene, zircon and diamond are higher on the refractive index scale. Other forms of garnets tend to be a dark red with distinct brownish tones. Mandarin Garnet is a striking orange color combined with tremendous brilliance that makes it very special.
Mandarin Spessartite Garnet is among the small group of ideochromatic gems that are colored by a fundamental element in their composition rather than by impurities. The composition of Mandarin is manganese aluminum silicate, and it is the manganese that gives it the remarkable orange color. Some Spessartite has traces of iron that give it a rich orange-red color that is highly regarded by Spessartite connoisseurs.
Prior to the 1990’s Spessartite garnet was a rare collector’s stone. In 1991 a new find in Namibia introduced the famous tangerine orange or “mandarin” color. The Namibian material tends to be included with many very small crystals and needles. Gems are usually under 10 carats. New discoveries in Mozambique and Nigeria are producing excellent material. The new finds range in color from pure orange to orange-red and red-orange, with many very clean.
DESIGNATION:
Garnet is the birthstone for January, Aquarius (Jan. 21 – Feb 18), and the traditional gift for a couples 2nd wedding anniversary.
Mandarin Garnet (Spessartite) is considered to be a semi-precious gemstone. While limited in nature, some good size stones are available. Mandarin Garnet is a striking orange color combined with tremendous brilliance that makes it very special. The Spessartite family are brilliant gems that has a refractive index higher than sapphire. In fact only zircon, sphene, and diamond are higher on the refractive index scale. Mandarin garnet is highly regarded for its good hardness and excellent durability. Spessartite is among a small group of ideochromatic gems, which are colored by a fundamental element in their composition rather than by impurities. It is one of the few gems that have no enhancements.
Spessartite Garnet is transparent and available in a narrow range of naturally occurring colors from yellowish orange to reddish orange. Mandarin (Spessartite) Garnet only comes in a true tangerine orange or “mandarin” color – any hint of yellow or red in the orange makes the stone a Spessartite rather than a Mandarin Garnet.
COLOR:
Tangerine or mandarin orange (Mandarin Garnet), yellowish orange to reddish orange (Spessartite Garnet).
APPEARANCE:
Transparent to opaque Spessartite Garnet is a Type II gemstone and is usually included.
SIZE RANGE:
1 – 10 carats.
POSSIBLE ENHANCEMENTS & TREATMENTS:
Spessartite Garnet has no known enhancements.
HARDNESS:
7 to 7½ on the Mohs scale.
BEST USE OF THE GEMSTONE:
Spessartite Garnet can be used in all types of jewelry.
CARE & CLEANING:
It is best to never expose colored gemstones to cleaning solvents or chemicals of any kind.
Common cleaning methods include:
Ultrasonic: risky
Steamer: never
Warm soapy water: safe
Reaction to Chemicals: can be damaged by acids.
Reaction to Heat: fast temperature changes may fracture it.
Stability to Light: stable after prolonged exposure to sunlight or UV light.
INTERESTING FACTS ABOUT THIS GEMSTONE:
Spessartite is a brilliant gem that has a refractive index even higher than sapphire. In fact only sphene, zircon and diamond are higher on the refractive index scale. Other forms of garnets tend to be a dark red with distinct brownish tones. Mandarin Garnet is a striking orange color combined with tremendous brilliance that makes it very special.
Mandarin Spessartite Garnet is among the small group of ideochromatic gems that are colored by a fundamental element in their composition rather than by impurities. The composition of Mandarin is manganese aluminum silicate, and it is the manganese that gives it the remarkable orange color. Some Spessartite has traces of iron that give it a rich orange-red color that is highly regarded by Spessartite connoisseurs.
Prior to the 1990’s Spessartite garnet was a rare collector’s stone. In 1991 a new find in Namibia introduced the famous tangerine orange or “mandarin” color. The Namibian material tends to be included with many very small crystals and needles. Gems are usually under 10 carats. New discoveries in Mozambique and Nigeria are producing excellent material. The new finds range in color from pure orange to orange-red and red-orange, with many very clean.
DESIGNATION:
Garnet is the birthstone for January, Aquarius (Jan. 21 – Feb 18), and the traditional gift for a couples 2nd wedding anniversary.