Description
In 1994 a new type of garnet was discovered in the African nation of Mali. A mix of two relatively rare and valuable gem garnet types–andradite and grossularite–this new garnet was named “Mali Garnet” in honor of the locality of discovery. The most well-known gem grossular is tsavorite, and the most well-known andradite gem is the rare demantoid. Because of the demantoid content, Mali garnet has a relatively high refractive index and dispersion, giving it excellent brilliance and a lovely “fire.” The color can range from brownish to a bright green, with rarity and value increasing as the color follows that trend.
This Mali garnet is a beautiful yellow color and it has lovely dispersion that can’t be captured in this photo–making it reminiscent of a colored diamond. There is a slight green tint to the yellow that is more visible in some lighting than others–reminiscent of a yellow highlighter pen. The garnet is faceted in my custom “Helena” brilliant oval design, creating a brilliant and dispersive gemstone. It weighs 1.52 carats and measures 7.2 x 6.1 x 4.7 mm. It is very clean, with just a tiny inclusion tucked way off near one edge and not visible without a 10x loupe.
