1.09 Ct. Tsavorite Garnet from Tanzania

This transparent 1.09 carat cushion shape tsavorite garnet measures 6.91 x 5.08 x 3.72 mm, and presents an elongated cushion profile with a length to width ratio of approximately 1.36, an ideal proportion for accommodating both prong and bezel settings. The cutting style is a mixed brilliant, combining a step influenced girdle and crown architecture with a brilliant modified pavilion, a combination that optimizes both depth of color and scintillation. The stone is graded slightly included at eye level, indicating minor internal characteristics that do not detract from face up appearance, and the polish is excellent, with crisp facet junctions and fully developed mirror surfaces. Origin is Tanzania, the rough exhibiting the intense chromium and vanadium signature that produces the vivid green saturation evident in this gem, and there has been no enhancement of any kind, ensuring the material is wholly natural from rough to finished stone.

Optically this tsavorite displays vivid color intensity across the crown, with uniform saturation and minimal zoning, a direct result of careful pavilion depth control and calibrated table size during the cutting process. As a grossular variety within the garnet group, tsavorite is isotropic, producing single refraction, with an approximate refractive index range of 1.740 to 1.760, and a specific gravity in the region of 3.61 to 3.73, numbers that contribute to the stone feeling lively and substantive in hand. Dispersion in grossular garnets is modest, and the cutter has compensated by employing a mixed brilliant faceting scheme that enhances contrast and facet to facet return, yielding lively scintillation and attractive light return under both daylight and artificial lighting conditions. The slightly included clarity grade means inclusions are minor, often pinpoint and feather types, positioned and oriented such that they are visually unobtrusive but still useful as natural fingerprints confirming authenticity and origin.

From a durability standpoint this tsavorite is exceptionally well suited for daily wear, primarily due to its material properties and the absence of cleavage. Tsavorite garnet registers approximately 7.0 to 7.5 on the Mohs hardness scale, providing solid resistance to abrasion and surface wear when set into rings, necklaces, or bracelets. The species also lacks true cleavage planes, reducing the propensity for catastrophic splitting under impact, and exhibiting generally good toughness for a garnet. Those technical characteristics, combined with the cutter s disciplined proportions and the excellent polish, make this gem robust in everyday jewelry contexts. Standard maintenance practices are advised, including routine cleaning with warm soapy water and a soft brush to preserve the polished facets, and gentle ultrasonic cleaning is usually acceptable, though caution is advised when inclusions are present, as localized stress around internal needles or fractures could theoretically respond poorly to extreme rapid oscillation.

The finished gem reflects a high level of lapidary skill, beginning with careful rough selection from Tanzanian pockets known for producing rich green material, and concluding with symmetry control and facet alignment that maximize both color and performance. At 1.09 carat the piece is an ideal size for a center stone in engagement rings, or a focal element in a pendant, providing a balance of presence and wearability that many collectors prefer. The Natural Gemstone Company stands behind the provenance and the documented no enhancement status of this tsavorite, and is prepared to provide additional technical data on request, including high magnification imaging of the inclusions, precise facet mapping, and recommended mounting options that protect the girdle and crown while showcasing the vivid green saturation. For buyers seeking an untreated, technically well executed cushion tsavorite with substantial daily wear credentials, this gem represents a compelling combination of appearance, durability, and craftsmanship.