Hessonite belongs to the family of a mineral called garnet and it is also called the "cinnamon stone". Garnet has a wide spectrum of colors similar to sapphires and spinel; hessonite is the most famous of them all. While garnets can be found in nearly all colors, hessonite is primarily known for its deep orange/amber color
Hessonite is recognized for its deep orange/amber color which it receives from the presence of iron in the mineral garnet. This distinct color differentiates hessonite from the rest of its family and other color-gemstones. The colors of hessonite can range anywhere from light yellowish orange, to a deep orange-red.
Hessonite scores 6.5 on the Mohs scale of hardness making it reasonably strong for jewelry. It is certainly not as hard or durable as sapphires but this should not dissuade you from wearing hessonite jewelry. For those looking to use hessonite in astrological jewelry, the hardness of hessonite is not much of a factor as all astrological rings are set in low bezel settings to have the gemstone touching the skin of its wearer. This protects the stone almost fully and allows it to be easily used in everyday jewelry.
Hessonite is usually associated with the ability to realize one’s own virtues and it is said to improve confidence of its wearer.
One of the factors that contribute to the popularity of hessonite is its historical and religious significance. Hessonite gets its name from the Ancient Greek word esson, which means inferior (due to the gemstone's low density and hardness). Hessonite was prized by the Romans and Greeks; especially in intaglio (engraved) jewelry items.
Many astrologers believe that wearing a specific size of hessonite can bring you prosperity, wealth, and a long life. Hessonite is a well-known stone in Hindu and Buddhist scriptures, and it is one of the nine stones that represent the solar system's celestial bodies. Hessonite is also thought to bring good fortune and health, in addition to money and prosperity.
Hessonites are also often larger than most other gemstones and it is not uncommon to find hessonites in the range of 3 carats and above. Hessonite is an easy choice for individuals wishing to add a gorgeous, eye-catching precious gemstone to their collection without worrying about the budget.
Hessonite is the birthstone for those born in the month of January.
The color, clarity, and transparency of a hessonite garnet are the three key characteristics that determine its quality. The price of a hessonite, like that of any other gemstone, is directly proportional to its quality. The carat weight of a hessonite is also an important element in determining its price These factors are described in detail hereunder which form the basis for a letter grade system (A-AAAA) generally used to grade overall quality of a hessonite.
The color of a hessonite is the most important quality criterion and it determines the price of the gemstone. The color should be well-distributed with a high saturation level and the stone must be transparent. The price of a hessonite increases with the increase in color saturation to a point where it doesn’t become overtly dark or oversaturated. At that point its price drops significantly. A very light color hessonite and extremely dark / opaque hessonite will have almost the same price.
Clarity refers to the presence or absence of internal and external imperfections in a gemstone. Unlike diamonds, color gemstones do not have any universal clarity grading system. Generally, hessonite is a much clearer gemstone when compared to other gemstones and as such clear hessonite are easy to find with jewelers of repute. In the wholesale trade, we evaluate the clarity of a hessonite in the following manner.
Transparency refers to the attribute of a gemstone to let the light pass through. The more light passes through, the more transparent the stone. Everyone loves transparent gems because the colors appear vivid. The only problem with higher transparency is that the flaws in the gemstone are more visible as compared to less transparent stone.
The rough of hessonite is cut in a way to obtain the desired color saturation of the hessonite since the price is primarily dependent on the color. Lighter material is cut deeper to allow the gem to hold more light and increase saturation, whereas darker material is cut shallower to allow more light to pass through the stone.
Cutting a gemstone requires a high degree of skill which is mastered with years of practice and patience.
Carat (ct) is the primary unit to measure the weight of a gemstone. One carat equals one-fifth of a gram or one gram has five carats. The deep or the shallow cut of a hessonite will have a bearing on its apparent size thereby making it important to consider other measurements viz. length and width which are expressed in millimeters. A 7x5mm Oval can weigh 0.80cts or 1.5cts, depending on its depth and cutting style.
Many countries in the world produce Hessonite. These are India, Sri Lanka, Africa, Austria and Thailand. Though hessonites from Sri Lanka and India tend to have higher quality, there is no premium on hessonites depending upon their origin.
In the gem industry at present, there is no known and accepted treatment or enhancement for hessonite and as such all hessonite garnets must be labeled untreated and should be sold as such. Jewelers of repute do not endorse any treatment on hessonite and therefore customers must avoid hessonites treated in any manner.
A letter grading system is used by several local jewelers to educate their consumers about the quality. We've given here a full description of the grading system used commonly and by us.
| Grading | % of All Hessonite Garnet | Description |
|---|---|---|
| AAAA (Heirloom) | Top 1% | Fine quality gems that are typically found at very high end boutiques. They have rich color, slightly included to eye clean clarity and tend to exhibit nice sparkle. These gems tend to appreciate the most in value over time due to rarity and high demand. |
| AAA (Excellent) | Top 10% | High quality gems that are typically found in high end stores such as on 5th Avenue. They have vivid to medium color and are slightly included to very slightly included eye clarity. |
| AA (Very Good) | Top 25% | These gems typically have moderate to slightly included eye clarity. They are usually found at medium to high end jewelers. |
AAAA (Heirloom)
Top 1%
Fine quality gems that are typically found at very high end boutiques. They have rich color, slightly included to eye clean clarity and tend to exhibit nice sparkle. These gems tend to appreciate the most in value over time due to rarity and high demand.
AAA (Excellent)
Top 10%
High quality gems that are typically found in high end stores such as on 5th Avenue. They have vivid to medium color and are slightly included to very slightly included eye clarity.
AA (Very Good)
Top 25%
These gems typically have moderate to slightly included eye clarity. They are usually found at medium to high end jewelers.
Hessonite garnet is a fairly hard gemstone and doesn’t require much care. But here are a few things that you can do to keep your hessonite jewelry looking new.
