A Hessian

[VapidLapid]

I was In the midst of preparing for the arrival of my new refrigerator. I moved the old one and found, as expected, that the hardwood floor under it was completely rotted. I tore that up to find the subfloor, wet and rotted. I tore that up and found a sub-subfloor, wet but not rotted. Then the doorbell rang. Post office, package you must sign for. So I went downstairs to collect my parcel; a 4 x 6 x 8 inch box. Back upstairs with some time to kill while the guts of the floor dried out, I tore into my parcel.
I had never seen a Hessonite garnet except online. From what I have garnered there they should be an odd mix of turbid and clear. What would normally be thought of as bad crystal as though the stone had captured the effect of visible heat waves rising from the desert ground. That being so, it is unlikely that an asscher cut would perform well in such a stone. Well I guess that would depend on what one means by "well". If a fine assscher has that windmill effect, this Hessian Asscher has the effect of a windmill that is spinning! A dizzying blur, the eight sided square form is knowable in the sum of the flashes.

 

[VapidLapid]

Ok the PS image compression had grossly distorted the color in the photos so I have gone back into them and made adjustments in an attempt to compensate. These are the same three again, if it works great, if not I will just post them as they are. The stone is brilliantly orange, not brown, like a nice spess during an eclipse.

 

[Aoife]

Wow. Those are really amazing photos, VL. What's the plan for this little fireball?

And what are you going to do with your rotting floor and subfloor? I have a mental image of your new refrigerator plummeting into the sub-basement.....

 

[Lady_Disdain]

Very interesting. I love these unusual stones.

Did you cab those spinels from the parcel we shared? I don't remember seeing pictures.

 

[VapidLapid]

Ok well the refrigerator was just delivered which interrupted my posting.
To resume:

 

[VapidLapid]

 

[VapidLapid]

2.26 carat
6.93 x 6.88 x 5.67
From John at Gemrite

 

[Arkteia]

It is pretty saturated and bright. From what I have read, hessonites range from reddish-orange to brownish-orange. Yours has some brownish but A LOT of orange in it and is very well-cut. Would look great in a ring! Congratulations!

When you started telling your story, for a second I thought that it will end with you finding a long-lost hessonite behind the refrigerator!

 

[Upgradable]

I love the silky look of that stone, especially with the closeup versions. How are you considering setting this stone in able to maximize this effect? I always love you esthetic!

 

[chrono]

Very interesting effects captured by the camera. I, too, was expecting to read about how you found something behind the refrigerator or similar.

 

[VapidLapid]

Of all the pictures I loaded, hess7b is the only one that even begins to come close to the true color, but it is more intense and smoldering.
As for the floor and the appliance, I will expand that in my refrigerator thread in hangout. Here I will just say that I did some mold remediation with bleach, stuffed the space with thyme (natures source of thymol, a fungicide) and rebuilt the subfloor and then the floor. But the Hessian visitation was a welcome interruption. Since the fridge was delivered as I started this thread, it is now here, in place and turned on! I will get some pictures of the Hessian in the sun later today! I think it is a ring stone.

 

[Pandora II]

Nice stone, unusual to see in that cut for definite!

Hessonites are one of my favourite garnets. Often what looks to be a spessartite turns out to be a Hess. once you take the RI as they can be really orange and also very red - I've also seen very pale examples which are pretty. The Sri Lankan's are very keen on them and you will see a lot of men wearing them in rings as good luck and protection talismans.

(I hope you don't mind my saying this, but 'hessian' is a type of coarse fabric used in upholstery!)

 

[LD]

And I thought you had found a package made up of hessian (i.e. the cloth) and inside it, under the floorboards, was a hoard of gemstones! We can but dream!

Your new stone is very nice and the photography is great! What are your plans? After you've put the floorboards back, the refrigerator in place etc!!! Oh, I meant, what are your plans with the stone!

 

[Aoife]

I actually thought he'd found one of these under the floorboards:

http://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl...g4TomtDc_ViAKuxcjxDg&ved=0CCMQ9QEwAg&dur=1152

 

[natsplat]

I love the combination of the colour and step cut. Such a good appealing size too. More pics please!

 

[Lady_Disdain]

How do you feel about the thick girdle?

 

[VapidLapid]

ok here are a few pics outdoors, hopefull the color will be a better match.





I dont mind the thick gordle, I kind of like it on this stone actually
I always think of german soldiers in the 17th and 18th centuries when I hear "Hessian".

 

[VapidLapid]

These pics are much closer to the actual color, but still slightly more brown and somewhat less orangy, but the stone just smolders!

 

[T L]

Cool stone, looks like there are hot glowing embers in there.

 

[lavatea]

I love it.

 

[Arkteia]

Agree. It glows. Beautiful photos!

 

[ZestfullyBling]

Your gem has a wonderful glow!!!!! Very Pretty!!!

 

[Richard M.]

I always think of german soldiers in the 17th and 18th centuries when I hear "Hessian".

The "hesson" in Hessonite is taken from the Greek word for "less" or "inferior," not from German mercenary soldiers or a fabric name.
That's because it's much softer than its look-alike zircon, which was highly prized by the ancients as "hyacinth" or "jacinth" and was found in the same hues as Hessonite.

Hessonite is a member of the grossular garnet species that includes Tsavorite and mint garnets, most Mali garnets, as well as colorless, yellow and even rare pink hues. It lacks the very high refractive index of spessartite but cuts very attractive gems as your stone proves.

Richard M. (Rick Martin)

 

[Kismet]

What a lovely glow-y stone and the cut is amazing too.

 

[blithesome71]

I love the dreamy vibe. Very nice cut as well.

...Your stone reminds me of the Arabian Dessert Beautiful. Congrats on your lovely Hessian

 

[pregcurious]

Very funky. I like it.