HPJ REF. POINT: ULTRA RARE 3.72 CT VVS TOP ORANGE SRI LANKA HESSONITE GARNET

An extremely rare ‘Best Orange’ Hessonite Garnet earth mined at Balangoda in Sri Lanka.

Hessonite is a gem quality variety of Grossularite (Grossular) garnet, the calcium-aluminum silicate member of the Garnet species. While most varieties of Grossularite are green, Hessonite is known for its characteristic honey-yellow to brown-red 'cinnamon' color, though it can occur in other colors as well. It is referred to as the ‘Cinnamon Stone’, or the 'Kaneel Stone' in reference to its distinct color. Other types of Grossular garnets include the more common green Grossularite, chromiun rich Tsavorite  the rare Hydrogrossular Garnet and the rare Leuco Garnet (colorless).

 The name, 'Hessonite', was derived from the Greek word 'hesson', meaning 'inferior' - in reference to the fact that Hessonite has a density and hardness lower than that of most other forms of Garnet.