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Tsavorite | Facts and curiosities of one of the rarest jewels

on June 08, 2023

Tsavorite garnet is one of the rarest and most coveted gemstones in the world. Its mystical forest green color is part of the reason why it has become so famous within just a few years of its discovery.

Beyond its breathtaking beauty, its history and symbolism connect Tsavorite to the magnificent and exotic green regions of East Africa.

 

History

Tsavorite was first officially introduced by the famous Kenyan-Scottish gemologist Campbell Bridges in the middle of the 20th century (1961 if we are being precise). The first find was in Zimbabwe and the second in Tanzania, neither of which were officially recognized. By then it was impossible to get legal exploitation.

It was not until 1974 that Campbell's tireless efforts led him to the first vein in Kenya, which soon came to the attention of the industry.

Commercially it was named Tsavorite after Tsavo National Park, one of Africa's largest nature reserves, located in Kenya.

"The name of this garnet not only evokes its origin but also its link to the nature"

 

What is Tsavorite? And what are its properties

Technically Tsavorite is a rare form of Garnet called Green Grossularia. It owes its color to the presence of Vanadium and sometimes Chromium in its chemical composition. This is a common point with Emerald.

The higher the concentration of Vanadium the darker and more intense is its green color and therefore the rarer, purer and more desirable is the stone. Its high refractoriness gives it a great luster. 

Among the other Tsavorite garnet properties, its great hardness stands out, although far below diamond or sapphires, it is enough to age perfectly in all types of settings making highly beautiful and durable pieces of jewelry.

In terms of clarity, Tsavorite is a type II gemstone in the GIA classification. It can have inclusions, although much less than other gemstones.

Tsavorite of acceptable quality is usually clean-to-the-eye and its imperfections are not noticeable unless magnification is used. This property makes its extraction more desirable.

 

Is Tsavorite Garnet rare?

Almost all Tsavorite are found in the border strips dividing Kenya and Tanzania. Zimbabwe and Madagascar also mine this gem, but in smaller size and quality. This garnet is extremely rare, at least 100 times more than emerald, its main competitor in color.

As the size increases and the greenness of the stone becomes more accentuated, it becomes rarer and rarer to obtain. As far as its extraction is concerned, a rough Tsavorite of two carats or more represents only 2.4% of the annual extraction.

 

Tsavorite garnet price

Although mining remains constant each year, the difficult location of the few mines that exist complicates the extraction and therefore increases the tsavorite price considerably.

To define the Tsavorite Garnet value, the intensity of the green color, the number of visible inclusions and the size of the gem are taken into account. Not to mention that the demand increases gradually.

 

Tsavorite garnet price per carat

To get an idea, in the "ideal" conditions could cost between $1,000 and $1,900, in the 2+ carat range. For the truly rare 5+ carat pieces you can expect prices easily exceeding the $7,000 and $8,000 per carat ranges. That's how rare they are.

Current prices for Tsavorite are considerably higher than they were 10 years ago (Almost double for 3+ carat pieces) making this gemstone a great investment.

 

Tsavorite stone meaning

Tsavorite, like all garnets, is considered a stone of vibrant energy due to its intense color and brilliance. The great beauty of garnet is even described in religious texts such as the Bible and since ancient times these stones were used as medicinal and protective amulets.

A garnet was believed to be an enhancer: it was set in armor to protect higher-ranking soldiers and placed in ammunition to do more damage.

Although they are now traded more for their beauty than for their mystical powers, there remains a historical significance imprinted on it that makes each garnet a symbol of power.

 

Green Tsavorite meaning

The Tsavorite Garnet meaning is related to the untouched and wild nature. The striking tones of this gemstone are reminiscent of the living energies of the earth, especially to reflect fertility, health and abundance.

Beyond a spiritual sense, a Tsavorite is a perfect gift for those who love nature or have beautiful memories of greenery. A well colored gemstone is a wonder to behold and its natural tones can evoke feelings of tranquility and encourage the wearer's creativity.

 

Tsavorite birthstone

Did you know that there is a beautiful gemstone to represent each month? Tsavorite is the birthstone for January and May. In some cases a good colored emerald can work as a birthstone, but Tsavorite being rarer and brighter is more desirable.

Garnet is the January birthstone so a Tsavorite would be a perfect confidence for those who wish to represent a symbolic union between the two months.

 

Tsavorite Garnet Ring

Tsavorite garnet gemstone rings are jewelry that will not go unnoticed. The hardness of this garnet is hard enough to withstand daily wear with moderate care, and its intense color and luster make it an excellent purchase that will eventually achieve investment quality if cared for sufficiently.

The peculiar appeal of these rare gems makes even the most stylized designs, with small inlays, jewelry of unparalleled beauty.

 

Green Tsavorite Garnet Ring 

An extremely rare gem requires an equally special and unique setting. An Eternity Ring is the perfect way to highlight the properties of a green tsavorite stone, in a professional oval cut that maximizes its outstanding refractive capabilities for maximum brilliance.

 

 

 

As a symbolic gesture, a green Tsavorite ring is the ideal way to represent abundance and good fortune in the form of a gift or as a birthstone to commemorate the month of May.

 

Tsavorite Garnet Pendant

A symbolic stone, hard to find and beautiful like no other, it is the kind of gemstone you would always want to keep close to your heart, especially when it represents something as special as a gift or your name. For this reason, Tsavorite initial letter pendants are one of the favorites of our collection.

 

Tsavorite Garnet Earrings

When it comes to popular settings, Green garnet tsavorite gemstones earrings have a special place in any collection, why? They are able to enhance the natural beauty of a face and further enhance the visual impact of light eyes. Easy to combine with diamonds and any type of gold, especially white and yellow gold, giving it an unparalleled versatility.

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