Did you know that the garnet comes in many exciting colours? They are all stunning, vivacious, and for the most part, reasonably priced. But we have an exception here, a rare member of this large family that deserves all the attention. Yes, it’s none other than the tsavorite! This gemstone is famed for its vibrant colour that can range from light green to a rich and deep grass green. And while it is gaining much-deserved recognition in the jewellery world, many still wonder whether it is a rare gemstone or not.
In this article, we will unveil just that.
But First, What Exactly Is a Tsavorite?
Tsavorite is a unique type of grossular garnet, and a relatively new jewel in the otherwise ancient world of gemstones. This luxuriant gem was discovered in the 1960s, however it was officially introduced to the masses only in the year 1974. Its appearance is often compared to lush-green emeralds, and there is certainly a close resemblance. In reality, however, the tsavorite happens to be an expensive variety of grossular garnet. In addition to being extremely beautiful to look at, this gem also has a rating of 7 to 7.5 on the Mohs scale of mineral hardness, which indicates that it is a considerably durable gem. Therefore, you can flaunt tsavorite in various kinds of jewellery, albeit with proper care and precaution.
Back to the Main Question, Is It a Rare Gem?
The answer is, yes!
Historically, tsavorite was discovered by British geologist Campbell Bridges in Tanzania in 1967. When the Tanzanian government nationalized the mine shortly afterward, Bridges shifted his operation to Kenya, where he discovered the jewel close to Tsavo National Park. Then later, the gemstone was named after the same famous national park where it was discovered.
Today, tsavorite is believed to be much rarer than emeralds, as it is only found in the East African regions, namely Kenya and Tanzania. Pure green heirloom-quality tsavorites, especially, are still only found in Tsavo, Kenya.
Also, this gem is usually found in relatively small sizes, and stones weighing over 2.5 carats are considered extremely rare and equally valuable.
Points to Remember When Buying a Tsavorite
- Establish a budget: As with all high-end purchases, you always need to be mindful about your budget before buying fine jewellery. We recommend you to pick quality over the size or carat weight of the tsavorite in order to make the most of this jewel’s exquisite beauty.
- Choose the appropriate metal: Tsavorite is mostly set in platinum and white gold for a sophisticated and contemporary look. The glow of green against the silver-white sheen creates an eye-catching look.
However, if you’re going for a more timeless vibe then we recommend opting for yellow gold. The idea behind this is that green is a cool colour, while yellow has more warmth to it, so this contrast makes for a stunning piece of jewellery that is sure to win hearts.
Final Thoughts
As seen throughout this article, tsavorite is not only rare and valuable, but also the perfect green gemstone that is worthy of being passed on to your future generations. So go ahead and bring home a masterpiece!
