The tsavorite stone is the hallmark of the Tiffany jewelry house, which mines precious stones all over the world. The gem got its name from the Tsavo National Park in Tanzania, where it is mined. An alternative transliteration into Russian of this name is “tsavorit”.
A crystal can become not only a decoration, but also a powerful amulet for those to whom it matches their zodiac sign. It is also used in lithotherapy to treat a whole range of nervous diseases. More on this and more below.
History of tsavorite
Tsavorite is one of three precious minerals (plus tanzanites and Paraiba tourmalines) discovered in the second half of the 20th century.
His story is like a detective story:
- The first bright green, emerald-like stones were found in 1967 in Tanzania by Kenyan gemologist of Scottish origin, Cambell Bridge.
- However, it was prohibited to remove gems from there. Unlike neighboring Kenya. Here, in the Tsavo National Park, sparkling stones were also found. The park went down in the history of jewelry art along with the mineral. It was dubbed tsavorite, which is as close as possible to the local sound.
- Campbell Bridge and the Tiffany jewelry house are considered the godparents of the stone. It was the gemologist who charmed the company’s representatives with the gem. That meeting turned out to be fateful: after some seven years, the Tiffany brand made him a favorite. And the owner of the company, Henry Platt, came up with a name for the stone.
- Africans claim that a pebble has the ability to “hide” from people. Therefore, it is not a fact that you can see him a second time in the same place.
The English term is tsavorite, Russian variants: tsavorite, tsavorite, tsavolite.
Where is tsavorite mined?
The development of green garnet (tsavorite is sometimes called that) in the place where it was found - in Tanzania - is complicated by the fact that Tsavo has the status of a national park, and the government does not want to give permission for industrial mining.
Geologists managed to discover grossular deposits of the mineral in other African countries:
- Madagascar;
- Kenya;
- Uganda;
- other regions of Tanzania.
For cutting, the mineral is usually sent to Germany. Today, the largest supplier of the gem to the world market is Kenya, which is why it is sometimes called the Kenyan emerald.
Physico-chemical characteristics
On the chemical scale, tsavorite is an oxide of calcium and aluminum. The rich green color is due to vanadium and chromium in the crystals.
The high hardness and density of the gem ensures the strength of the structure: defects such as cracking, chipping, and “lumpy” are rare.
| Mineral | Grossular (garnet) |
| Chemical formula | Ca3Al2[SiO4]3 |
| singonia | cubic |
| Additionally | a precious variety of grossular color containing impurities of chromium and vanadium |
| Color | Bright green, sometimes with a yellowish tint |
| Mohs hardness | 7–7,5 |
| Density | 3.61 g/cm3 |
To a mineralogist, tsavorite is a transparent, precious variety of grossular garnet.
Differences and similarities
The properties of green tsavorite largely replicate those of grossular. Only shades float around the green color all the time. These minerals come in light, dark, or true emerald. When split, the surface of the stone produces a conchoidal fracture, that is, the structure is shaped like a shell from a mollusk shell.
Tsavorite is confused not only with emerald, but also with other green stones:
- demantoid (green garnet);
- uvarovitis;
- green sapphire;
- chrysoberyl;
- peridot.
The ability to split and the formation of surfaces with uneven fracture indicates imperfect cleavage of tsavorite crystals. They themselves are shaped like a cube. The chemical formula of the stone looks like Ca3Al2(SiO4)3. Symbols indicate the presence of calcium, aluminum, oxygen and silicon.
Tsavorite and emerald
The similarity of color plus the name of the deposit and composition gave rise to other names for tsavorite - Kenyan, vanadium emerald.
But these are different stones:
- Emerald is a type of beryl, while tsavorite is a type of garnet.
- The color of tsavorite is richer than emerald - from delicate light green to thick dark green.
- Impurities can give green stone brownish, bluish or grayish tints.
- Tsavorite value scale: the brighter the shade, the better.
Green garnet is found 250–300 times less frequently than emerald.
Gem color range
Since tsavorite is a rare stone, it is not divided into varieties. However, the color palette of Kenyan emerald is quite variable. Moreover, its shades are even richer than those of a “true” green gem.
The most expensive samples are deep green. But there are others too.
Tsavorite can be either light green or rich malachite. It all depends on the impurities that enter the crystal lattice of the stone during its formation in the bowels of the Earth.
A pure mineral, devoid of any foreign inclusions, is brown or dark gray. Such a crystal has no jewelry value, only scientific value. The most expensive varieties are rich green, but in general, the darker the shade, the more valuable the stone is.
Where is the mineral used?
Tsavorite is taken by jewelers; it is used only in the premium segment:
- Tsavorites are present in the jewelry of first-line jewelry and fashion houses: Chopard, Tiffany, Chaumet.
- The stone is in the Emotion collection (2013) by Faberge.
- Cutting is carried out by masters from Kenya, Tanzania, and Germany. Their mission is to preserve the outlines of the crystals as much as possible.
- Tsavorite is especially good in a white setting: platinum and white gold. Although it looks luxurious with silver.
- Its jewelry neighbors are diamonds, sapphires, emeralds, and zircons.
Among the admirers of the Kenyan emerald was Grace Kelly, a Hollywood diva who became the Princess of Monaco in 1956.
Ring with tsavorite
Jewelry with mineral
Tsavorite is considered an expensive gemstone. The cost is determined by many factors - color, rarity, difficult mining conditions. Various jewelry is made from Kenyan emerald, the cost of which starts from $200, reaching $2000. If the product uses large stones of 5 carats or more, such jewelry will cost $20-30 thousand.
In silver, as well as in combination with colorless stones, the nugget looks more advantageous. Gold is also used for the frame. The rarest specimens of gems become the property of museums or private collections.
Tsavorite earrings and pendant
To whom and how is the stone suitable?
This choice is the prerogative of wealthy, discerning people who feel like future celebrities.
The stone is framed with a white frame, usually silver. The jewelry turns out to be coldly sophisticated and this makes it even more attractive.
Even a few pieces with tsavorite do not create a feeling of loudness or overload with glitter.
Therefore, jewelry is good at any time of the day. During the day, the richness of color and shine appears in all its glory. They look aristocratic at an evening reception.
Green-eyed or gray-eyed ladies are best suited. If the eye color is different, buy a matching wardrobe to match the stones.
Stone care
Tsavorite has sufficient strength and hardness not to be afraid of scratches, but no one has canceled the caring attitude towards gems. Store it in a separate box covered with a soft cloth.
You can wash the gem with water or a mild soap solution, and then immediately dry it with a dry cloth.
This magical gift of the earth’s depths should not be left in the sun for too long, as this may cause the color to fade.
Tsavorite is a very expensive stone, but this does not stop true connoisseurs of the beauty of the gifts of the underworld. If you don’t chase size and purity, then the stone is accessible to people of average income.
How to care
You need to care for tsavorites like other garnets:
- Contacts of the stone with liquids are limited.
- Direct sun is acceptable, but not for long, otherwise the stones will fade.
- Contaminated products are immersed in lightly salted or soapy water for 10–12 minutes. If necessary, wipe with a soft brush and rinse with running water. Immediately dry with a soft cloth and polish with suede/velvet cloth.
- An annual professional cleaning will be helpful.
Gold and silver jewelry used for magical or medicinal purposes should not be washed too diligently or often. This weakens the energy field.
Varieties, colors
Tsavorite occurs in nature in green color, so it can easily be confused with emerald. The main differences between the stones are as follows:
- there are significantly more emerald deposits;
- emerald has a density higher than tsavorite;
- the composition of the “African emerald” is rather similar to another gem (garnet), so it costs less than its precious twin mineral;
- The variety of tsavorite shades is many times greater than the color range of emerald.
The shades of the tsavorite mineral that can be found are light green, green, dark green, blue-green (the latter is extremely rare). The most valuable are the dark green samples.
Price
Russian online stores offer a wide range of products and stones (price/rub.):
- oval-cut stone (9.3x7.2 mm; 2.1 carats) – 162,500;
- untreated agglomerate (15x20x23 mm) – 3,600;
- silver ring – 4,900.
Jewelry with tsavorite
The world price of bright green tsavorites is from $10 thousand per carat.
Tsavorite is the most expensive variety of garnet. The cost of jewelry with large stones amounts to thousands or tens of thousands of dollars, depending on the material of the frame.
How to avoid becoming a victim of deceivers
Tsavorite is an expensive and beautiful stone, so it is counterfeited very often. It is very simple to distinguish a primitive fake made of glass or plastic: just squeeze the mineral in your fist or press it to the skin. The genuine stone will remain cold, the fake one will heat up.
Genuine, but cheaper stones can also be passed off as Kenyan emerald. The only way to combat this is to buy jewelry only in large certified stores, carefully studying the documentation.
Authenticity is especially important if the mineral is planned to be used as a magical amulet or healing mineral. You won't get the desired effect from a fake.
Glass and plastic are simply dead from an energy point of view, and cheaper stones can have completely different properties, sometimes opposite to those needed by a person buying a Kenyan emerald.
How to identify a fake
The rarity and high cost of tsavorite provoke a wave of counterfeits. More often it is a special type of glass.
The properties of natural tsavorite help determine the origin of the sample:
- In nature, crystals of one or two carats are common. Five-carat tsavorites are rare and expensive.
The 325-carat faceted specimen is unique. Obtained from a tsavorite source weighing almost a thousand carats.
- Their transparency is heterogeneous.
- The unique feature of tsavorite is its glow, visible in sunlight.
- The stone is mined in one place, exclusively by hand. Therefore, there is no talk of “democratic” prices.
- Each stone is accompanied by a certificate indicating the deposit. It can only be Africa.
They have not yet learned how to grow tsavorites artificially. If the seller positions the sample as a synthetic stone, it is most likely an artificial aluminum garnet. The stone is also not refined either by thermal treatment or by injection of oils.
Tsavorite deposits
Stones are most often found in very small sizes, rarely reaching a weight of 5 carats. Finding the mineral is not easy; layers of crystals can disappear and appear suddenly.
From its appearance to the present day, the main deposit of tsavorite is the territory of East Africa, and more precisely, Kenya and Tanzania. In the late 1990s, the stone was also discovered in Uganda. The deposits are located in arid areas without vegetation, so its industrial extraction is extremely difficult.
Magic properties
Tsavorite has only been used for half a century, but the magical properties of the mineral have been revealed:
- It absorbs negativity released towards the owner. Creates an impenetrable energy “cocoon” around him.
- Wearing a stone or jewelry sharpens intuition.
- The owner of the stone is confident in his own abilities.
- Tsavorite is a family, love, home talisman. Brings prosperity to the home, creates warmth and trust in relationships.
In a house where there is tsavorite, there are no scandals or quarrels.
- This protects the home from thieves and natural disasters (hurricanes, floods, fires).
Green is the color of money. It is natural that tsavorite talismans are bought by financiers, bankers and those who dream of getting rich.
- This is also an attribute of careerists and ambitious people. Businessmen and merchants consider him theirs.
Thanks to its color scheme, tsavorite is considered the stone of everyone who works on the earth: agrarians, farmers, gardeners, gardeners.
Tsavorite
Practical use
The gem is favored by jewelers. Even unprocessed samples are used. Interesting specimens are used for cabochons. High-quality tsavorites are used to make jewelry. The price category of the product can range from 200 to 2000 dollars. Particularly large samples are much more expensive. Minerals framed in silver look very beautiful, allowing you to enjoy the depth of the green color. It is worth noting that the stone is not created synthetically.
Therapeutic effect
Traditional medicine honors the stone for its wide range of actions:
- normalization of blood pressure;
- neutralization of migraines, headaches;
- improving eye health, improving vision;
- debugging metabolism.
To improve your vision, you need to contemplate the pebble daily for 15–20 minutes.
Tsavorite is a savior for elderly and weather-sensitive people. Facilitates the human condition during magnetic storms, temperature or pressure changes, and other natural disasters.
The mineral is recommended for everyone who sits for hours at a computer, lives in stable tension, or gets tired after physical or nervous work.
Helps overcome stress. A pebble under your pillow will make you sleep soundly and calmly.
Help in treating diseases
Action on the head
Among folk healers, the healing properties of tsavorite are unanimously noted. The stone is believed to have an effect on eye diseases and is used to relieve tension from tired eyes. This is especially true for those who spend a lot of time at the computer.
To alleviate the condition, which manifests itself in headaches and lethargy, you just need to look at tsavorite. At the same time, it makes absolutely no difference whether the stone is enclosed in some kind of frame, or whether it is a separate mineral. If it is not processed, the effect is even stronger than after sanding and removing part of the layer under the edges.
For patients at risk
Lithotherapists are absolutely confident in the ability of tsavorite to normalize blood pressure. Therefore, it is recommended to wear amulets with stones to everyone who suffers from such a pathology.
This is especially true for older people over 50 years of age. They are at risk for diseases associated with the circulatory system. And vascular diseases and blood pressure are directly related. Doctors believe that constant contact of tsavorite with such patients can even replace the medications that they have to take for life to maintain their tone.
Tsavorite and Zodiac
Astrologers have found that the favorites of the stone are Cancers and Pisces. They will become more complacent and reduce the degree of criticism towards others.
Tsavorite is also suitable for representatives of the Earth triad:
- Dev will make you more energetic, protect you from spiteful critics, envious people, and the evil eye.
- Taurus will gain financial success and receive support in their personal lives.
- Capricorns who own the talisman will become kinder, calmer, even more phlegmatic.
The stone will not harm other signs of the Zodiac either.
What zodiac signs is it suitable for?
The mineral has no restrictions on zodiac signs, so astrologers recommend it to all representatives. Tsavorite has a special effect on everyone, but most of all it favors the water element.
Talismans, bracelets, rings and earrings have a positive effect on Pisces and Cancers.
First, it helps overcome uncertainty. Gain positive thinking and find common ground with strangers. Impulsive Cancers find harmony in their souls, stop constantly rushing about and become more balanced.
Effect of tsavorite on other zodiac signs:
- Aries . Gain dominance and harmony in relationships. Learn to accept responsibility.
- Taurus . They become peaceful and successful.
- Twins . Finally opening their eyes to the beauty around them. Good luck with them everywhere.
- Lions . They teach an excellent amulet against evil people.
- Virgos . They experience the joys of life and are protected by the stone from troubles.
- Scales. They gain confidence in their plans and complete things.
- Scorpios . Tsavorite calms their ardor and activates curiosity.
- Sagittarius . Determine plans for the future, choose promising opportunities
- Capricorns . Heal from mood swings, gain health and clear vision
- Aquarius . Experience the healing power of the stone to the fullest. Their digestion improves and their vision improves.
