SPESSARTINE

Vivid orange spessartine garnet & diamond ring, in platinum

Species:  Spessartine
Group:  Garnet
Mohs Hardness:  6.5 to 7.5 out of 10
Color:  Orange, brownish orange, yellowish orange or red orange.  Always has an orange component and never shows any purple.
RI:  1.810 (+0.004 / -0.020)
Birefringence:  None
SR/DR/AGG:  SR, often with ADR
Clarity Type:  Type II
Pleochroism:  None
Spectrum:  Bands at 412, 424 & 432nm, which sometimes merge to form a cutoff.  Bands at 505, 527 & 575nm.
Fluorescence:  Inert
SG:  4.15 (+0.05 / - 0.03)
Routine Treatments:  None

Spessartine Facts

Photo courtesy of Scott Papper, GIA GG, AJP, CMA (NAJA), Global Gemology & Appraisals

Garnets occur in nearly every color but spessartine garnet always has an orange component to its hue.
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Spessartine is commonly, and incorrectly, referred to as spessartite, which is an igneous rock.

​Garnet is a January birthstone and is the 2nd wedding anniversary gemstone.

All photos courtesy of Scott Papper, GIA GG, AJP, CMA (NAJA)