Spessartine: The orange garnet
Spessartine is a type of garnet. Other stones in this group include demantoid, tsavorite, umbalite and rhodolite. This garnet was named after the German Spessart region. It was discovered here in the late 18th century by a Russian mineralogist.
The colors of spessartine
Spessartine owes its orange color to traces of manganese and aluminum. Its hues range from orange-brown to brown-red and orange-yellow. Stones in pure orange also occur.
Spessartine is often also referred to as Mandarin Garnet. Mandarin Garnets are actually special Spessartine. They are found in Namibia, their color is bright orange with a tinge of yellow. This stone is also called “Kunene Garnet”, “Kunene Spessartine” or “Hollandine”.
Origin: Spessartine can be found on almost every continent
Spessartine has been found in Brazil, Germany, California, Japan, Madagascar, Namibia, Nigeria, Tanzania, Pakistan, Virginia, Italy (Elba) and Turkey.
Spessartine for unique jewelry
This gemstone is mainly used for jewelry. Even if you buy a cut spessartine from the igneous gemstone shop, you can have it made into a piece of jewelry. The advantage of individual stones is, on the one hand, that you receive a certificate of authenticity for them. On the other hand, you can have unique pieces of jewelry made from this stone according to your own ideas. There are no limits to your imagination and the creativity of the goldsmith.
Spessartine is suitable for rings, necklaces and bracelets. If you find two similar stones, you can also have them made into earrings. Depending on your preference, the setting can be made of silver, white or yellow gold.
According to the American Gem Society, garnet stones are the birthstones of January and are therefore popular birthday gifts during this month. Most people think of red garnet varieties, but other garnets such as the orange spessartine are also suitable for jewelry gifts for those born in January.
Characteristics: high hardness & few inclusions
Spessartine has a hardness of 7 to 7.5 on the Mohs scale and is therefore a relatively hard mineral. The Mohs scale of mineral hardness ranges from one to ten, with talc classified as the softest mineral at one, and diamond as the hardest known mineral at ten.
Spessartine can have fluid inclusions or small crystal inclusions. Some spessartine is free of inclusions.
Spessartine: the most common cut
Depending on the size and shape of the rough stone, gemstones are cut into different shapes. Spessartine is usually cut into a round or oval shape. This stone can be found both faceted and cut into a smooth cabochon.