Tsavorite comes from the mineral called garnet which is a broad family of the mineral type and tsavorite is its emerald green variety. It was first discovered in the late 1960s and the name comes from the Tsavo region of Kenya, where the commercial-grade tsavorites were first discovered.
Tsavorite is primarily known for its rich vibrant green color which is due to the presence of vanadium and chromium. However, Tsavorites in other hues such as yellow or light green can also be found. Tsavorite should not be confused with its cousin ‘green garnet’ because the two gemstones have different crystal structures.
Tsavorite scores 7.5 on the Mohs scale of hardness, making it suitable for any type of jewelry. It is particularly popular in engagement rings largely due to the fact that it is much more resistant to breakage than emeralds which are also green gemstones but much deeper in color. People who want a brilliant green with a great value proposition generally prefer tsavorite to emerald.
Although tsavorite is a rare gemstone, its price has remained within affordable range due to its relatively recent discovery. Price is a major reason for customers who are looking for an emerald-like gemstone in color, yet want a more brilliant appearance. The faceting structure of the tsavorite crystal allows for a wider range of cutting options due to its natural brilliance, which in turn allows tsavorite to be commercially available in many different styles.
The color intensity, clarity, and cut of a tsavorite are the three key characteristics that determine its quality. The price of a tsavorite, like that of any other gemstone, is directly proportional to its quality. The carat weight of a tsavorite is also an important element in determining its price These factors are described in detail hereunder along with the overall letter grade system which is used for quality identification.
The color of a tsavorite is the most important quality criterion and it determines the price of the gemstone. The most desirable color is anywhere between light green and dark green. The color should be well-distributed with a high saturation level and the stone must be transparent. AFG follows its own system of color grading which is detailed here under.
Best color without being overly dark (80% to 90% saturation)
Shade lighter than Intense (60% to 80% saturation)
Slight oversaturation of color
Shade lighter than vivid (30% to 60% saturation)
Lightest saturation of color (5% to 30% saturation)
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, tsavorite is a much clearer gemstone when compared to other gemstones and such clear tsavorites are easy to find with jewelers of repute. In the wholesale trade, we evaluate the clarity of a tsavorite in the following manner.
| Grading | Description |
|---|---|
| Eye Clean | 100% clean to the eye, but not necessarily under magnification |
| Very Slightly Included | Very tiny inclusions are eye visible under close inspection or when tilting the gem |
| Slightly Included | Tiny inclusions are eye visible |
| Moderately Included | Inclusions are eye visible |
| Included | Significant inclusions are eye visible |
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 tsavorite is cut in a way to obtain the desired color saturation of the tsavorite 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 tsavorite will have a bearing on its apparent size thereby making it important to consider other measurements such as 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.
Tsavorites are mined in various locations around the world such as Kenya, Madagascar and Tanzania. High quality gemstones along with the low quality ones are found in all the locations. However, the mines in Kenya generally have higher quality deposits.
At present, in the gem industry, there is no known treatment or enhancement related to tsavorites. As such all tsavorites must be advertised and sold as untreated and without any enhancements. Any treatments applied to tsavorites are not accepted by reputable jewelers and should be avoided.
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 grading system used commonly and by us:
| Grading | % of All Tsavorite | Description | |
|---|---|---|---|
|
|
AAAA (Heirloom) | Top 1% | Fine quality tsavorites 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 tsavorites that are typically found in high end stores such as on 5th Avenue. They have vivid to medium color and from slightly included to very slightly included eye clarity. |
|
|
AA (Very Good) | Top 25% | Medium to light color gems that exhibit medium sparkle. They typically have moderate to slightly included eye clarity. These gems are usually found at medium to high end jewelers. |
|
|
A (Good) | Top 50% to 75% | Light color gems that tend to be included. Typically found in commercial quality jewelry. |
AAAA (Heirloom)
Top 1%
Fine quality tsavorites 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 tsavorites that are typically found in high end stores such as on 5th Avenue. They have vivid to medium color and from slightly included to very slightly included eye clarity.
AA (Very Good)
Top 25%
Medium to light color gems that exhibit medium sparkle. They typically have moderate to slightly included eye clarity. These gems are usually found at medium to high end jewelers.
A (Good)
Top 50% to 75%
Light color gems that tend to be included. Typically found in commercial quality jewelry.
Tsavorite is a fairly hard gemstone and doesn’t require much care. But here are a few things that you can do to keep your tsavorite jewelry looking new.
