Spessartite is also known as Spessartine and is a bright yellow-orange to orange to red-orange gem.

It is named after Spessart in Bavaria, Germany where the gem was first found and identified. Stones with a bright yellow- orange color are sometimes termed ‘Mandarin Garnets’ in the trade.

Significant mining locations today include Nigeria, Mozambique, Namibia, Madagascar and Tanzania.

Almost all gem-quality garnets are a mix of two or more species, and Spessartites are a mix of Spessartine and Almandine Garnets. The Almandine component usually introduces the reddish tones in color.

Garnets are part of a large family of silicate minerals that have similar physical properties but vary in chemical composition.

Pure Garnet would be colorless; it is the trace elements that give garnets their colors.

For example, iron and chromium create reds and greens; chromium and vanadium create greens, and manganese creates pinks and oranges.

Garnet is the birthstone for January, celebrates the 2nd Anniversary and comes in almost all colors of the spectrum including the rare color-change material.

Lots of choice for January birthdays!

We have many more shapes and sizes available in Spessartite – please contact us if you don’t find what you are looking for in our online inventory.