Large Mahenge Garnets

[Tsavomn]

Hello all. I figure i open up a new thread. My question is. I know garnets can turn brown or blackish. Especially in large sizes. Under less than ideal lighting. Mahenge ones too.

Being kind of a newbie. How much brown or black. Is considered too much? I figure i can expect some brown, etc, etc. But i have no idea. What is considered normal or too much? Thanks!

 

[Autumn in New England]

That's difficult to quantify... it will become easier once you've seen enough material to train your eyes. We always advise to "buy what you like." But speaking in terms of fine material and its corresponding prices, that would require the appropriate knowledge. Did you want to post any stones in question?

 

[Tsavomn]

That's difficult to quantify... it will become easier once you've seen enough material to train your eyes. We always advise to "buy what you like." But speaking in terms of fine material and its corresponding prices, that would require the appropriate knowledge. Did you want to post any stones in question?

Hello Autumn. Thanks for your reply. Check out my other post. Mahenge Garnets. Opinions? Scroll down to the two pictures of the Mahenge 11.44 cts. Taken outside and indoors.

 

[toomuchB]

Agree with Autumn. I'm not sure if you have Instagram but @tucsontoddsgems is worth a scroll for larger garnet as he sells quite a bit of it. I assume it is under good lighting but he is friendly and will answer questions, and has the experience.
Here is a link to his page.

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For others: the 11ct garnet OP referred to is here:

T

Post in thread 'Mahenge Garnets. Opinions?'

Jul 21, 2025

Hello all. This is from Africa Gems. For some reasons. I could not post the videos. So i took these screenshots instead. I wanted to get a picture of stone face up. Both indoor and outdoor. Window anywhere? My newbie eyes can't tell.

Mahenge Malaya Garnet 11.44 Carats Stunning Rose Color, Special Gem, 13.4 x 11.3 mm

Seller of high quality loose gemstones, diamonds, jewelry, findings and mountings

www.africagems.com

• Tsavomn

 

[Autumn in New England]

Thanks, @toomuchB! I don't see what I would call a window (maybe an open facet or two), but the cut looks fantastic to me. I also don't see any discernable brown judging by the photos provided, especially the outdoor one, which interests me more anyway.

 

[fredflintstone]

Hello all. I figure i open up a new thread. My question is. I know garnets can turn brown or blackish. Especially in large sizes. Under less than ideal lighting. Mahenge ones too.

Being kind of a newbie. How much brown or black. Is considered too much? I figure i can expect some brown, etc, etc. But i have no idea. What is considered normal or too much? Thanks!

It depends on the quality of the material. There are Mahenge Garnet that don't shift brownish. Top quality ones hold their color. They might shift a little more purplish in some lights but never brownish.

Never seen one shift blackish. I think you are mistaking extinction for shifting due to cutting (normally too deep of cut) with color shifting. Extinction is where a stone will black out under different lighting, some do it in all lighting.

 

[fredflintstone]

Agree with Autumn. I'm not sure if you have Instagram but @tucsontoddsgems is worth a scroll for larger garnet as he sells quite a bit of it. I assume it is under good lighting but he is friendly and will answer questions, and has the experience.
Here is a link to his page.

Login • Instagram

Welcome back to Instagram. Sign in to check out what your friends, family & interests have been capturing & sharing around the world.

www.instagram.com

For others: the 11ct garnet OP referred to is here:

T

Post in thread 'Mahenge Garnets. Opinions?'

Jul 21, 2025

Hello all. This is from Africa Gems. For some reasons. I could not post the videos. So i took these screenshots instead. I wanted to get a picture of stone face up. Both indoor and outdoor. Window anywhere? My newbie eyes can't tell.

Mahenge Malaya Garnet 11.44 Carats Stunning Rose Color, Special Gem, 13.4 x 11.3 mm

Seller of high quality loose gemstones, diamonds, jewelry, findings and mountings

www.africagems.com

• Tsavomn

The dark areas you see are either extinction as I mentioned earlier or black reflection from the camera. Also, being that the stone is on fingers that can create black areas too, as the stone sits deep in the fingers blocking some light. Also, if the camera is at an angle in relation to the stone it can create dark areas to the camera's eye. Then there is contrast setting on a camera, these too can create dark areas.

 

[Tsavomn]

Thanks Fred. I just ordered the 11.44 one in the pictures. But, i hope those dark areas are not extinction though.

 

[Autumn in New England]

Thanks Fred. I just ordered the 11.44 one in the pictures. But, i hope those dark areas are not extinction though.

Let us know how you do!!

 

[toomuchB]

Thanks Fred. I just ordered the 11.44 one in the pictures. But, i hope those dark areas are not extinction though.

That is exciting. Please share your thoughts and photos when you get it.

Africagems has a great return policy so you're totally safe and can return if something bothers you about it.

 

[Tsavomn]

Thanks all. From what i gather. Most stones have some extinction. I forgot to talk to Marc about that. But, i would not expect this stone to have a problem with that. Or anything else really. As far as sharing my thoughts. I will. I'm sure i will really like it. But remember. I'm bit of a newbie. And don't have the knowledge to really know. If something doesn't look right. True they have a nice 30 day return policy. Which i shouldn't have to use.

 

[toomuchB]

Thanks all. From what i gather. Most stones have some extinction. I forgot to talk to Marc about that. But, i would not expect this stone to have a problem with that. Or anything else really. As far as sharing my thoughts. I will. I'm sure i will really like it. But remember. I'm bit of a newbie. And don't have the knowledge to really know. If something doesn't look right. True they have a nice 30 day return policy. Which i shouldn't have to use.

I think when you get it in hand, especially after a few days of looking at it, you'll know if you love it or not - expert or newbie. If you share your thoughts and images here, we are here to dissect it. But keep in mind sometimes we can go hard with our critiques, and they are sometimes excessive, even a little unfair.

The cut looks excellent I would not worry about excess extinction (a little is impossible to avoid)

 

[Tsavomn]

I think when you get it in hand, especially after a few days of looking at it, you'll know if you love it or not - expert or newbie. If you share your thoughts and images here, we are here to dissect it. But keep in mind sometimes we can go hard with our critiques, and they are sometimes excessive, even a little unfair.

The cut looks excellent I would not worry about excess extinction (a little is impossible to avoid)

Thanks!