1.55 Ct. Tsavorite Garnet from Tanzania

This 1.55 carat cushion shape tsavorite garnet is a fine example of what serious collectors and discerning buyers look for in a vivid green gem. The stone measures 6.78 by 5.43 by 4.65 millimeters and is fashioned with a mixed brilliant cut, a choice that balances scintillation and color saturation. Visually the gem presents an intense green color intensity with excellent polish, giving strong face-up brilliance and crisp facet reflections. Clarity is graded as slightly included when evaluated at eye level, meaning there are minor natural inclusions visible to a careful unaided inspection, but they do not dominate the gem or interrupt its overall visual appeal. Importantly, this tsavorite is confirmed to have no enhancement, so the color and clarity are wholly natural attributes of the material, an important consideration for buyers who prioritize untreated provenance.

From a gemological perspective this gem is a green grossular garnet, the variety known as tsavorite, colored by trace vanadium and often chromium, which produce its lively spring and forest greens. Tsavorite garnets typically display refractive indices around 1.740 to 1.760 and a specific gravity near 3.60 to 3.65, characteristics that contribute to notable brilliance and a satisfying heft for its size. As an isometric mineral, tsavorite is optically isotropic, so it lacks pleochroism and behaves as a single refracting medium, simplifying the way it returns light to the viewer and enhancing its lively appearance. On the Mohs scale tsavorite generally sits around 7 to 7.5, offering good resistance to scratching and reasonable durability for everyday jewelry, considerably more robust in use than many heavily included or treated green stones. The excellent polish on this particular stone maximizes those optical properties and ensures strong window-free light performance across the crown and pavilion facets.

The mixed brilliant cushion cut and the gem’s proportions play a key role in the face-up appearance and market value. Cushions with a mixed brilliant facet arrangement combine step and brilliant elements to concentrate color in the crown and provide caustic flashes of white light, and this cut makes excellent use of the stone’s slightly deep profile. The stone’s depth, as reflected in the 4.65 millimeter depth relative to its length and width, contributes to the intense saturation that collectors prize, producing a rich, velvety green when seen in daylight or under jewelry lighting. Slightly included clarity at eye level means the inclusions are natural identifiers, often seen under close observation, and for many educated buyers these inclusions provide a fingerprint of authenticity rather than a flaw. While an eye-clean specimen may command a premium, a well-cut, intensely colored tsavorite like this one retains strong value because color and cut frequently have a greater influence on visual desirability than absolute clarity in colored gemstones.

The origin of this tsavorite, Tanzania, adds meaningful provenance and market significance. Tsavorite was first identified in East Africa in the mid-20th century, and East African sources have remained synonymous with the most saturated and collectible material. Tanzanian origin in particular signals that the gem comes from one of the relatively limited geological occurrences where grossular garnet developed the chromium and vanadium signatures necessary for the vivid green color collectors seek. Rarity of high-quality tsavorite, combined with the fact that fine material is often found in small parcels and is not amenable to large-scale treatment, confers a scarcity premium compared to more commonly available green stones. For buyers concerned with ethical sourcing and traceability, Tanzanian provenance can often be documented and discussed with sellers, and at The Natural Gemstone Company we are committed to transparent representation, confirming that this gem is untreated and sourced from East African deposits. For practical use, the gem’s dimensions and durability make it ideal for a centerpiece ring, pendant, or bespoke design where its intense color can be shown off, and we recommend protective settings such as a bezel or secure prong work for long-term wear. We encourage buyers to request independent lab documentation if desired, and to take advantage of our detailed images and expert consultation to ensure this natural, unenhanced Tanzanian tsavorite meets both your aesthetic and investment criteria.