Photo by Jeff Mason.
Spessartine was first found at Schaffenburg in the Spessart district of Bavaria, Germany, hence the name. Until the 1990s, it was a relatively rare garnet, but that has changed, thanks to new discoveries of the gem in Madagascar, Namibia, Nigeria, Tanzania, China, and Brazil.
Spessartine mined in Namibia is usually called “Mandarin garnet” and sells for premium prices because of its bright tangerine-orange color. Another source of spessartine known for its intense orange color is the Little Three Mine in Ramona, San Diego County, California. It dates back to 1903 and for most of the 20th century was the main source of fine spessartine. There’s a good article on spessartine from Ramona by Brendan Laurs and Kimberly Knox in the Winter 2001 issue of Gems & Gemology.
Spessartine, which has also been called spessartite, ranges in color from orange-red to orange to yellowish orange to brownish orange. Basically, it is an orange garnet colored by manganese. However, it usually occurs in combination with almandine, whose iron component can give spessartine a reddish color. Technically, spessartine is identified as a manganese-aluminum silicate species and a member of the garnet group.
The most valued spessartine colors are intense pure orange and red-orange. The lowest-priced are yellowish, pale, and brownish colors. Transparency and clarity play a major role in the price. Heavily included and translucent stones are sold for prices below $25 per carat. High-quality designer-cut stones sell at premium prices and can retail for more than $1500/carat in sizes of 5 carats and above.
Photo by Jeff Mason.
Guest articles by Renée Newman:
https://gem-spectrum.com/category/renee-newman
About the author:
Renée Newman is a gemologist (GG, GIA), lecturer, writer and author of 15 books on gems and jewelry. Her goal is to provide consumers and jewelry professionals with unbiased, affordable information on how to buy, evaluate and appreciate gems and jewelry. She can be reached through her website:
