Tsavorite: A green garnet
Tsavorite, often also called Tsavolite, is a green garnet. It was named in 1974 by the jeweler Tiffany & Co after its discovery site north of the Tsavo National Park (Kenya).
Besides the tsavorite, there are other green garnet stones, such as the grossular and the demantoid. The umbalite can change color, from blue-green to purple. Garnet stones are available in many other colors, with red garnets being particularly popular. Compared to other colors, these are also the most common. Red garnet stones include the pyrope, almandine and rhodolite.
The most valuable garnet stones are the green ones, especially the tsavorite and the demantoid, which can fetch comparatively high prices.
The green shades of tsavorite
Tsavorite is usually an intense green. The shades range from light green to emerald green. To the naked eye, it can be confused with other green gemstones such as emerald, diopside, demantoid or verdelith.
The few localities of tsavorite
So far, only a few locations of tsavorite are known. Most of these gemstones come from Tsavo National Park and Lodwar. Both mines are located in Kenya. This is why the stone is often referred to as Kenyan tsavorite.
Smaller finds have been made in Madagascar and in the Merelani Hills in Tanzania.
Buy tsavorite for your collection or unique jewelry
Tsavorite is suitable for unique jewelry, but due to its rarity, the stone is also very popular with collectors. No matter what you buy a tsavorite for in the Igneous Gem Shop, you will only receive stones of the highest quality and with a certificate of authenticity.
If you are looking for a green gemstone for a piece of jewelry, you probably think of an emerald or the green tourmaline, the verdelith, first. But the tsavorite is also an option. Compared to the emerald, it is characterized by a high purity and a high refractive index. This makes it seem to glow in the light.
Jewellery gifts with tsavorite
You can have individual pieces of jewelry made for yourself or as a gift for someone else from the cut gemstone. Tsavorite is suitable for all types of jewelry – from rings and bracelets to pendants for necklaces. The precious green gemstones are often set in platinum or gold, but silver is also an option for the setting.
Tsavorite can be combined with other colored gemstones or with small brilliant-cut diamonds. It is also possible to create a piece of jewelry with several small tsavorites. As a garnet stone, the tsavorite is also the birthstone of the month of January (according to the American Gem Society). It is therefore the perfect gemstone for a valuable birthday present in January.
Hardness & inclusions of tsavorite
Like all garnet stones, tsavorite also has a hardness of 6.5 to 7.5 on the ten-point Mohs scale. In addition, tsavorite may have small inclusions, such as liquid veins, liquid droplets or crystal inclusions.
Facets accentuate the bright green color
Pure tsavorites are usually faceted. The facets help to accentuate the bright green color. Popular cuts include the oval or round brilliant cut, but emerald and cushion cuts are also used. Triangular or heart-shaped tsavorites are less common.
