Spessartite – A Unique and Interesting Choice For Both Mineral Collectors and Jewelry
What is Spessartite?
These gemstones are part of the garnet family meaning that they have a hardness of around 7 and are typically round in shape with specks reminiscent of seeds that give them a grainy look. Although the garnet family is very large and some of the gemstones in this category are very common, spessartite is not due to its limited supply and unique color.
It is commonly believed that any garnet gemstone that is red in color is a spessartite, but that is not true. The most common shades of color that you will find garnets in are red, but spessartite also comes in orange and orange-red tints. Spessartite garnets are formed in very high temperatures so they are normally found in metamorphosed rocks in volcanic areas. Spessartite is also known as spessartine. The gemstone received its name after it was found in the Spessart (German for “forest”) area of Germany.
Spessartite has become more common in recent years due to additional mines, but are still very valuable and sought after gemstones. Prices do range widely, but some of the rarest spessartite garnets are sold for $20,000 to $30,000 a carat. Depending on the color and the carat, the fiscal value can be much greater. Some colors are hard to find period, and some of the spessartite colors are often mined, but only found under a few carats in size.
What Makes their Color?
True spessartite garnets are a spectacular orange color that is caused by manganese. Unlike most other gemstones, the color of spessartite is not caused by the impurities in the stone, but instead of the chemicals that make up the stone in the first place. Most gemstones are originally white or colorless, and turn a color based on what minerals is mixed in, allowing most gemstones to be of many different colors. Spessartite, however, can only be in the orange or orange-red colors because of how it is made. Seldom, the mineral iron is included into the makeup of the spessartite making is a rich red-orange color that is much sought after and even more rare.
Where to Find Rough Garnet
Before the late 1990’s, spessartite was an extreme rarity and only owned by extreme gemstone collectors. They could be found in a few countries, Brazil, China, Kenya, and others, but only in small amounts. Once the gemstone was discovered in Namibia and Mozambique mines, more abundance was available. These mines are highly used and can find more than triple what the previous mines were finding each day. Before then spessartite was generally not seen worn as jewelry, but know spessartite jewelry is available.
Namibia and Mozambique is also where the valued Mandarin Spessartite gemstone is found. They are famous for their rich tangerine color, but are harder to find in larger carats. If a Mandarin spessartite over 5 carat is found, it can be sold at auction for more than $40,000 per carat, making it one of the highest valued gemstones.
The Beauty of Spessartite
The brilliance of the spessartite is what makes this gemstone so beautiful, and only three gemstones, including diamonds, have a higher refractive index than a spessartite. The refraction of light is what makes the gemstones shine or have a high brilliance. Most gemstones need light in order to reflect their colors, but a spessartite, especially the Mandarins ones, still shimmer brilliantly in poor lighting.
The spessartite gemstones look their best in real sunlight, especially in the warm light created at sunrise and sunset. Because of their warm orange colors, natural light displays the most brilliance.
Treatment for Spessartite
With most gemstones, they must be heat treated to enhance their beauty and color. For example, diamonds are not very attractive when first mined and have to be well treated before they “sparkle” in the way you are used to seeing them. Spessartite comes straight from the ground with high brilliance. No treatment is used; it is only cut when used for jewelry.
This makes all spessartite garnets rough spessartite or unpolished. When a gemstone can be sold in its natural state, it is valued much higher, but most gemstones are dull and just plain unattractive before they are polished. Spessartite is completely different by not needing any treatment or enhancement.
Traditions and Ideas based on Spessartite Garnets
Because spessartite garnets are so brilliant, they have been associated with ancient traditions and legends. It was believed that garnets, in general, would protect travelers at light by lighting up the dark paths because even at night the gemstones need very little light to reflect off them. It is even believed that Noah used a garnet as a lantern to steer his ark.
The orange colored created by the spessartite garnets have played a very important role in many cultures and religions. In the Asia arts, orange is associated with gods, and many Asian religions think of orange as a sacred color. Buddhism, especially, associates the color orange with purity and religion, and is why Buddhist monks only wear orange robes.
Spessartite is still used in our culture today, and is the birthstone for those who are born in the month of January and the stone for Aquarius zodiac sign. They are also believed to hold powers of healing when worn on the skin. Healers believe that they can help with arthritis and improve blood circulation in your legs.
Spessartite is a very treasured and beautiful member of the garnet gemstones family. It’s natural chemical makeup and rare availability has been admired and sought after for years, and will remain a very valuable gemstone for a long time.
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