Malaya or Malaia Garnet Value, Price, and Jewelry Information

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“Garnet,” 3.10 cts, Barion octagon cut, orangey red. With a refractive index of 1.75, this is probably a malaia garnet. © Dan Stair Custom Gemstones. Used with permission.

Malaia Garnet (Malaya Garnet)

Garnets are a complicated family. The story of malaya or malaia garnet illustrates this well. Discovered in the 1960s in the Umba Valley in Tanzania, these pink gems were called malaia, Swahili for “out of the family.” Miners who were being paid to search for violet rhodolite literally set aside these finds. At that time, they didn’t fit into any known garnet varieties. When malaia garnet came to the attention of the gem world in the 1970s, however, the outcast quickly became quite popular and valuable. These gems have since been found in a wider range of colors than the pink that initially garnered so much attention.

Malaia Garnet (Malaya Garnet) Value

Malaia garnet value increases as the tone lightens.

The International Gem Society (IGS) has a list of businesses offering gemstone appraisal services.

Garnet Value via Gem Price Guide

Top Color: oR, R, PR, rP 6/4

Almandine	All sizes
	to /ct

Fine Color Andradite: G 5/4

Andradite	All sizes
	to /ct

Chrome Pyrope	All sizes
	to /ct

Color Change	.5 to 1 carat	1 to 6 carats
Africa	to /ct	to /ct
US	to /ct	to /ct

Demantoid	to 1 carat	1 to 3 carats
	to /ct	to ,000/ct

Grossular Garnet	.5 to 1 carat	1 to 5 carats	5 carats plus
Mint Green (Merelani)	to /ct	to /ct	to /ct
Yellow/Orange	to /ct	to /ct	to /ct
Yellow/Green	to /ct	to /ct	to /ct
Other colors	/ct	/ct to /ct

Fine Color Hessonite: yO 4/5

Hessonite Garnet	All sizes
	to /ct

Malaya Garnet	.5 to 1 carat	1 to 5 carats	5 carats plus
	to /ct	to /ct	to /ct

Mozambique	All sizes
	to /ct

Mali Garnet	All sizes
	to /ct

Fine Color Spessartite: O 4/5

Mandarin Orange	All sizes
	to /ct

Fine Color Pyrope: R 6/5

Pyrope	1 carat plus
	/ct

Fine Color Rhodolite: rP, PR 6/5

Rhodolite	.5 to 1 carat	1 to 10 carats	10 carats plus
Faceted	to /ct	to /ct	to /ct
Cabochons	to /ct	to /ct	to /ct

Spessartite Reds See Mandarin above	.5 to 3 carats	3 to 6 carats
Little 3 Mine	to /ct	to /ct
African	to /ct	to /ct
Darker reds	to /ct

Star Garnet	All sizes
6 ray star	to /ct
4 ray star	to /ct

Fine Color Tsavorite: G 6/5

Tsavorite	.5 to 1 carat	1 to 2 carats	2 carats plus
Faceted	to /ct	to /ct	to ,000/ct

Uvarovite	10 carats plus
Druzy	to /ct

Cabochons	All Sizes
Common red to purple	to /ct

Malaia Garnet (Malaya Garnet) Information

Data	Value
Name	Malaia Garnet (Malaya Garnet)
Is a Variety of	Garnet
Colors	Various shades of red, red-orange, orange, brownish orange, yellowish orange, peach, and pink.
Alternate Common Names	Malaya Garnet
Crystallography	Isometric.
Refractive Index	1.74–1.78
Luster	Vitreous.
Polish Luster	Vitreous.
Hardness	7-7.5
Fracture	Conchoidal
Specific Gravity	3.75-4.00
Birefringence	None.
Cleavage	None
Dispersion	0.022-0.027
Transparency	Transparent to opaque.
Absorption Spectrum	Absorption bands are always visible at 4100, 4210, and 4300 that may merge to form a cutoff at 4350. There may also be absorption bands at 4600, 4800, 5040, 5200, and 5370.
Phenomena	Color change.
Birthstone	January
Formula	A₃B₂Si₃O₁₂. A = Mn, Mg, Fe. B = Al, Fe, V, Cr.
Pleochroism	None.
Optics	Isotropic. Some specimens may show anomalous birefringence.
Etymology	From the Swahili word malaia, meaning “out of the family” or “outcast.”
Occurrence	Alluvial deposits
Inclusions	Rutile, pyrite, or apatite needles.

Malaia Garnet: Tanzania (12.80, 11.39, 6.38 // 8.23, 8.56, 14.46). Photo © Joel E. Arem, PhD, FGA. Used with permission.

Comments

Popularity notwithstanding, the rare malaia garnet remains complicated. Currently, the name is used two different ways. It’s a trade name for pyrope-spessartine garnets with light to slightly dark colors ranging from pink, pinkish orange, yellowish orange, orange, to red. It’s also a variety of pyralspite (a blend of pyrope, almandine, and spessartite garnets) with a very wide range of possible mixtures. Malaia garnets may consist of 0-83% pyrope, 2-78% almandine, 2-94% spessartite, and 0-24% grossular, with no more than 4% andradite.

Identifying Characteristics

Some malaia garnets may shift colors under incandescent and fluorescent light. When faceted, they may also show scintillating red flashes due to the presence of chromium or vanadium. Malaia garnet’s absorption spectrum and needle inclusions can also help distinguish these gems from other garnet varieties.

Malaia garnet rough

Enhancements

These gems are not usually enhanced or synthesized.

Sources

The Umba Valley in Tanzania, the first known source of malaia garnet, now rarely produces the material. The gemstone has also been found in Tunduro, Tanzania, as well as Kenya and Madagascar.

“3.59-ct Yellowish Pyrope-Spessartine Garnet,” yellow with a hint of orange, likely a variety of malaia garnet. © All That Glitters. Used with permission.

Stone Sizes

Stones larger than four carats are very rare.

Trade Names

Light peach and pinkish orange malaia garnets are sometimes marketed as “Imperial garnets.” Brownish, pinkish orange specimens from Madagascar with a high anomalous double refraction have been called “Imperial malaia garnet.” Tan, beige specimens are marketed as “Champagne garnet.”

Care

Malaia garnets, with their high hardness and excellent dispersion, are excellent stones for faceting. Garnets are best cleaned with warm water, detergent, and a soft brush. Consult our Gemstone Care Guide and Gemstone Jewelry Cleaning Guide for more information.