Everything You Need to Know About Tsavorite, The Rarest Garnet
Tsavorite is a rare, beautiful gemstone highly sought after in jewelry and in collections. In its brilliant green color, the Tsavorite represents the garnet family, especially the grossular species, thus making it super popular due to its striking features and rarity. Therefore, in the following article, we will cover what makes the Tsavorite so unique, including how it was originally discovered, the properties of Tsavorite, applications in jewelry making, pricing, and healing properties.
What is Tsavorite?
Tsavorite is a garnet from the grossular group. The color occurs as deep green. It was discovered in the 1960s by British geologist Campbell Bridges in the foothills of Mount Kilimanjaro in Tanzania, and later also in Kenya, near the Tsavo National Park. It has been named after the region, Tsavo. Tsavorite also comes in green, so the likeness to emeralds is very similar, but tsavorites are more scarce and briller in the market than emeralds.
Tsavorite Properties
Chemical Composition: Tsavorite is essentially calcium aluminum silicate with minor elements like chromium and vanadium, giving it this signature green color, sometimes as bright vivid green and in others deeper shade.
Color: Tsavorite colors range from emerald-like green to deeper, richer colors. The most beautiful Tsavorites are of a rich, vivid green and have a color intensity that matches some of the finest emeralds but are more brilliant and transparent.
Hardness: Tsavorite has a Mohs hardness of 7 to 7.5, so it is tough enough for daily wear. Though less hard than diamonds, it remains sufficiently rigid to be resistant to scratches and damage in virtually all jewelry uses.
Clarity: Tsavorites occur with excellent clarity. Like other gemstones, most of these stones are clean without inclusions and even gain higher demand on the market. However, regardless of having such clean stones preferred on the market, there can still be minor included stones, but for appearance reasons; it may make it pretty costly.
Where is Tsavorite Found?
Tsavorite is very rare and can be found only in a few specific regions, mostly in Tanzania and Kenya. Most of the world's Tsavorite is mined in the foothills of Mount Kilimanjaro in Tanzania and in areas near the Tsavo National Park in Kenya. These areas have harsh mining conditions, making Tsavorite even harder to get. Because of its rarity, Tsavorite is much rarer than many other popular gemstones, such as emeralds or sapphires.
The rarity of the Tsavorite further adds to the value of the stone, making it one of the most expensive gemstones from the garnet family.
Tsavorite in Jewelry
The brilliant and vibrant green color of Tsavorite makes it perfect for fine jewelry use. This gemstone can be found in engagement rings, earrings, necklaces, bracelets, and more. Its versatility allows it to be paired with various metals such as gold, silver, and platinum, and combined with other gemstones.
Tsavorite is becoming a popular substitute for emeralds, since it is both differently colored and scarce, making engagement rings a really unique choice. Tsavorite rings are available in an assortment of cuts, such as oval, round, cushion and emerald.
Necklaces and Pendants Tsavorite is highly used in necklaces and pendants, as this stone really speaks for its color. In both solitaire settings and in conjunction with diamonds, the Tsavorite pendants make a stunning and classy statement.
Tsavorite earrings come in stud and drop versions. The brilliant green hue of this gemstone gives it optimal use as an earring, sometimes used alone or with other stones, such as diamonds.
Tsavorite beads are utilized in jewelry to make necklaces and other elbow-scratching styles, as well as with bracelets. These beads are available in assorted sizes for a classy and understated piece.
Tsavorite Pricing and Value
This makes Tsavorite very expensive because it is rare and beautiful. Its value depends on carat weight, color, clarity, and cut. The biggest stones with intense green color and high clarity will be the costliest. Tsavorite gemstones of high quality can cost hundreds of thousands per carat and thousands of dollars more in case it is over 5 carats in weight.
The smaller carats of Tsavorite can be purchased at a cost of a few hundred dollars, but they still remain an expensive gemstone, relatively speaking to most other gems. Even so, Tsavorites are less expensive than emeralds, though both can produce similar colors and emeralds are often even more expensive in the market.
Tsavorite Healing Properties
Tsavorite is believed to have many metaphysical and healing properties that make it very popular not only for its beauty but also in terms of enhancing physical and emotional well-being. Though these are not scientifically proven, many are using Tsavorite for crystal healing purposes.
Tsavorite is an anti-stress stone that helps to reduce and calm stress, then intuitive thoughts about emotional turmoil. It is soothing with a sense of serenity and peace that opens up emotional balance and releases negative feelings from the mind of the wearer.
Tsavorite carries vitality and physical energy. It is used when regaining energy, especially as it is in relation to mental clarity. It induces a person to have good thinking and growth.
Tsavorite is also thought to attract prosperity or success. The green color of the stone is already showing signs of abundance, and most people use the stone in rituals or practices to manifest their wealth and success.
Caring for Tsavorite
Tsavorite is fairly hard but has to be treated with care in order for it to remain sparkling long. The following are some care tips which will keep your Tsavorite jewelry looking beautiful for years to come:
Clean Tsavorite jewelry with a soft cloth and mild soap solution. Harsh chemicals or ultrasonic cleaners must not be used on the stone.
Store Tsavorite jewelry separately from other gemstones to avoid scratching. Store in a soft pouch or jewelry box when not being worn.
While being durable, the Tsavorite still can be chipped or scratched if hit from a hard angle. Treat your Tsavorite jewelry carefully to prolong its life.
Conclusion
It perhaps is among the most prized varieties of garnet as far as the fine jewelry pieces are concerned, because of extreme rarity and that scintillating green color. The gem adorns the engagement rings; however indeed, is being appreciated as the item of beauty as well as its uniqueness in form of earrings, and necklaces. With great expense due to rarity, though more affordable as opposed to the gemstone that could be taken more on equal terms from it, in particular, if being compared-emerald, yet highly sought due to its elegance Tsavorite appears even more desired.
