Tsavorite Garnet Value, Price, and Jewelry Information

“Tsavorite (Grossular Garnet),” Tanzania (4.11, 2.47, 1.25. 4.01). Photo © Joel E. Arem, PhD, FGA. Used with permission.

Tsavorite (sometimes called tsavolite) is the green-colored variety of grossular garnet. First discovered in Tanzania in 1967, the gem became popular via a marketing campaign by Tiffany & Co. in the 1970s. With emerald-like color, tsavorite is one of the most popular and expensive varieties of garnet. This gemstone can be faceted into many designs and can be used in rings, pendants, necklaces, and earrings.

Tsavorite Value

Clean, quality tsavorite, rough or faceted, is not difficult to find. However, pieces over two carats are rare, and the price per carat jumps at that size. Stones up to one carat are common.

“Tsavorite Garnet on graphite,” Merelani Hills, Lelatema Mts, Arusha Region, Tanzania. © Rob Lavinsky, www.iRocks.com. Used with permission. — “Tsavorite Garnet on Graphite,” Merelani Hills, Lelatema Mts, Arusha Region, Tanzania. © Rob Lavinsky, www.iRocks.com. Used with permission.

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 (Merlani)	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

See the entire Gem Price Guide.

Start an IGS Membership today for full access to our price guide (updated monthly).

See Plans and Pricing

Tsavorite Information

Data	Value
Name	Tsavorite
Is a Variety of	Grossular
Crystallography	Isometric
Refractive Index	1.72 – 1.744
Colors	Yellow green, green, deep green
Luster	Greasy to vitreous
Polish Luster	Vitreous
Fracture	Conchoidal, uneven
Hardness	7 – 7.5
Toughness	Very
Specific Gravity	3.55 – 3.73
Birefringence	None
Cleavage	None
Dispersion	0.028
Wearability	Good
Birthstone	January (Garnet)
Formula	Ca₃Al₂Si₃O₁₂+ V, Cr
Pleochroism	None
Etymology	Named after Tsavo National Park, Kenya.
Occurrence	Grossular garnets occur in metamorphosed, impure calcareous rocks, especially contact zones; also in schists and serpentines.
Inclusions	Fluids, asbestos fibers, rows of negative crystals.

“Tsavorite Garnet,” elongated, cut-cornered Barion triangle cut. © Dan Stair Custom Gemstones. Used with permission. — “Tsavorite Garnet,” elongated, cut-cornered Barion triangle cut, 2.21 cts, Kenya. © Dan Stair Custom Gemstones. Used with permission.

Comments

Tsavorite receives its prized green color from traces of vanadium (principally) and chromium. Although these gemstones have color that rivals emeralds, they have a higher dispersion and greater brilliance than emeralds and can match their hardness, usually without inclusions. Tsavorites generally do not require protective jewelry settings.

Synthetics

Tsavorite has not been synthesized. However, green glass as well as green yttrium aluminium garnet (YAG), a synthetic garnet, have been used as simulants.

Enhancements

These gemstones do not normally receive any treatments or enhancements, which makes them very desirable to collectors and enthusiasts of natural gems.

“Garnet var. Tsavorite (rough and cut set),” 0.87 ct gem, step trillion cut. Tsavo National Park, Kenya. © Rob Lavinsky, www.iRocks.com. Used with permission. — “Garnet var. Tsavorite (rough and cut set),” 0.87 ct gem, step trillion cut, Tsavo National Park, Kenya. © Rob Lavinsky, www.iRocks.com. Used with permission.

Sources

Commercial sources in Tanzania, Kenya, and Madagascar. Small deposits have been found in Pakistan and Queen Maud Land, Antarctica.

“Tsavorite,” Madagascar, by Géry Parent. Public Domain.

Sizes

Clean gems over one carat are rare. However, in 2006, a tsavorite crystal weighing 925 cts (185 g) was discovered in Tanzania. It yielded an oval, brilliant step-cut 325-ct gem. This is likely the largest clean specimen ever discovered.

Care

Gems with fluid inclusions should not be cleaned with mechanical systems or exposed to extreme heat. The use of warm water, detergent, and a soft brush is the recommended cleaning method for all garnets. Consult our gem care guide and jewelry cleaning guide for more information.