tsavorite garnet |
(SAV-ur-ite)
|
BUYER’S OVERVIEW:
Tsavorite is a very limited one source gemstone. Tsavorite is 200 times rarer than emerald and many times more brilliant due to a higher refractive index. Tsavorite is judged by the depth of its color as well as its clarity, with the finest stones being a true emerald green and eye clean. The color should be as intense as possible, without being overly dark or yellowish green. Any Tsavorite over 1 carat is rare and good stones over 3 carats are very rare.
COLOR:
Tsavorite is green to yellowish green. While its color never equals that of the finest emerald, an emerald-green color is the ideal. The color should be as intense as possible, without being overly dark or yellowish green.
APPEARANCE:
Transparent to semitransparent. Tsavorite is a Type II gemstone but typically they are relatively clean. When buying, one should search for eye-clean or near-eye-clean stones.
SIZE RANGE:
Melee (0.01 carat) sizes to 3 carats, high quality stones over 1 carat are scarce and over 3 carats are very rare. The largest known faceted stones are less than 5 carats.
POSSIBLE ENHANCEMENTS & TREATMENTS:
Tsavorite has no known enhancements.
HARDNESS:
7 to 7½ on the Mohs scale.
BEST USE OF THE GEMSTONE:
Tsavorite is not a strong gemstone and as such, earrings, pendants, pins, and tie tacks are probably the safest choice for this stone. Rings should be limited to occasional wear and the stones should be set with a protective setting.
CARE & CLEANING:
It is best to never expose colored gemstones to cleaning solvents or chemicals of any kind.
Common cleaning methods include:
Ultrasonic: never
Steamer: never (very heat sensitive)
Warm soapy water: safe
Reaction to Chemicals: can be damaged by acids.
Reaction to Heat: very heat sensitive, abrupt temperature changes can cause a stone to fracture.
Stability to Light: stable
INTERESTING FACTS ABOUT THIS GEMSTONE:
Tsavorite is a member of the Grosssularite (GRAHSS-you-lar-ite) garnet family. The color of Tsavorite is believed to be due to vanadium as well as a trace of chromium in the stone. This gem has the unique distinction that while Tsavorite looks like a gemological name, it is in fact, a name developed for marketing purposes. Henry Platt, then president of Tiffany & Co., proposed the name when the gem was first discovered on the border of Kenya and Tanzania in 1967. The name is derived from Tsavo National Park in Kenya where the first deposits were discovered in 1970 by the British geologist, Campbell Bridges.
It is said that Bridges was charged by a buffalo while he was out walking. He avoided the animal by diving into a gully. Looking around, he noticed some greenish rocks glinting in the sun. Later, Tiffany & Co. and Bridges introduced the Tsavorite gemstone.
Miners estimate that 85% of the material mined yields gems under 1 carat, 10% yields stone between one and two carats, 2.5% yields stones between two and three carats and 1% yields stones over 3 carats. At retail these stones may sell for as much as $8,000 per carat.
DESIGNATION:
Birthstone for January, Aquarius (Approx. Jan. 20 – Feb. 18), and 2nd wedding anniversary
Tsavorite is a very limited one source gemstone. Tsavorite is 200 times rarer than emerald and many times more brilliant due to a higher refractive index. Tsavorite is judged by the depth of its color as well as its clarity, with the finest stones being a true emerald green and eye clean. The color should be as intense as possible, without being overly dark or yellowish green. Any Tsavorite over 1 carat is rare and good stones over 3 carats are very rare.
COLOR:
Tsavorite is green to yellowish green. While its color never equals that of the finest emerald, an emerald-green color is the ideal. The color should be as intense as possible, without being overly dark or yellowish green.
APPEARANCE:
Transparent to semitransparent. Tsavorite is a Type II gemstone but typically they are relatively clean. When buying, one should search for eye-clean or near-eye-clean stones.
SIZE RANGE:
Melee (0.01 carat) sizes to 3 carats, high quality stones over 1 carat are scarce and over 3 carats are very rare. The largest known faceted stones are less than 5 carats.
POSSIBLE ENHANCEMENTS & TREATMENTS:
Tsavorite has no known enhancements.
HARDNESS:
7 to 7½ on the Mohs scale.
BEST USE OF THE GEMSTONE:
Tsavorite is not a strong gemstone and as such, earrings, pendants, pins, and tie tacks are probably the safest choice for this stone. Rings should be limited to occasional wear and the stones should be set with a protective setting.
CARE & CLEANING:
It is best to never expose colored gemstones to cleaning solvents or chemicals of any kind.
Common cleaning methods include:
Ultrasonic: never
Steamer: never (very heat sensitive)
Warm soapy water: safe
Reaction to Chemicals: can be damaged by acids.
Reaction to Heat: very heat sensitive, abrupt temperature changes can cause a stone to fracture.
Stability to Light: stable
INTERESTING FACTS ABOUT THIS GEMSTONE:
Tsavorite is a member of the Grosssularite (GRAHSS-you-lar-ite) garnet family. The color of Tsavorite is believed to be due to vanadium as well as a trace of chromium in the stone. This gem has the unique distinction that while Tsavorite looks like a gemological name, it is in fact, a name developed for marketing purposes. Henry Platt, then president of Tiffany & Co., proposed the name when the gem was first discovered on the border of Kenya and Tanzania in 1967. The name is derived from Tsavo National Park in Kenya where the first deposits were discovered in 1970 by the British geologist, Campbell Bridges.
It is said that Bridges was charged by a buffalo while he was out walking. He avoided the animal by diving into a gully. Looking around, he noticed some greenish rocks glinting in the sun. Later, Tiffany & Co. and Bridges introduced the Tsavorite gemstone.
Miners estimate that 85% of the material mined yields gems under 1 carat, 10% yields stone between one and two carats, 2.5% yields stones between two and three carats and 1% yields stones over 3 carats. At retail these stones may sell for as much as $8,000 per carat.
DESIGNATION:
Birthstone for January, Aquarius (Approx. Jan. 20 – Feb. 18), and 2nd wedding anniversary