Tell me about tsavorite garnets — best sources, interesting features, pics to share

[123ducklings]

Hi all,
Recently tsavorite garnets have caught my eye and I’ve been having fun window shopping. I am not looking to buy anything specific at the moment (no specs or budget) I am just enjoying seeing what’s out there and developing a sense of what I like best.

Any tsavorite fans on the forum willing to share your knowledge and expertise? I’d love to hear your favorite sources for tsavorites, any tips or information pertinent to shopping (sketchy treatments I should watch for?), and see pictures of your beauties — really anything you’re willing to share is much appreciated.

 

[lilmosun]

Personally, I prefer tsavorites that are well saturated, slight blue modifier (no yellow) and deeper in tone. You do not want a tsavorite that is too dark that it blacks out in some lights. (I have the same preference for mint garnets except for the lighter tone).

I've noticed that the line between tsavorite and mint garnets can vary by vendor - both are green grossular garnets so in shopping I would focus on what you love as opposed to marketing names applied.

 

[123ducklings]

Personally, I prefer tsavorites that are well saturated, slight blue modifier (no yellow) and deeper in tone. You do not want a tsavorite that is too dark that it blacks out in some lights. (I have the same preference for mint garnets except for the lighter tone).

I've noticed that the line between tsavorite and mint garnets can vary by vendor - both are green grossular garnets so in shopping I would focus on what you love as opposed to marketing names applied.

Thank you! I had noticed that about color. I’ve been drawn the most to mid-range greens but I will keep an eye out for the lighter range as I’ve seen some lovely lighter stones as well.

 

[elle_71125]

I freaking adore tsavorites.

Here are a couple of my absolute favorites.

This mint garnet owned by @aljdewey


This tsavorite owned by @suzanne2


This tsavorite was sold by Diamond by Lauren (and how I wish I had the money back then ). Personally, I want one just like this...but bigger.

 

[elle_71125]

I forgot this one. It was sold by Gene @PrecisionGem just a few weeks ago. Now that was a killer tsav!



There two are mine:

A tsav from Precision Gem


A mint garnet from Gilded Lane on Etsy.

 

[dk168]

I adore saturated Tsarvorites!

I have only purchased small stones so far, and a sizable one is on my bling wish list.

DK

 

[voce]

Like @lilmosun I also prefer vividly saturated, slightly bluish, not yellowish tsavorite. However, I think I started collecting too late, and all that seemed affordable and worth my money that I've been able to get was this suite of five emerald cut tsavorites I set into a crown ring I designed. Any tsavorites over a carat is expensive, and prices for over two carats are astronomical (at least from my perspective) because the mines are shut down and it's not clear when the governments of Kenya and Tanzania will allow the mines to reopen the way they were run before.

Right now unless money is no object, or if you don't mind buying the mint or gems with more yellow, it's not a good time to buy tsavorites, in my humble opinion. Stock is limited and prices are high. Honestly, I see more value in buying fine qualify emerald at the same price point, if you want a larger size. The examples Rfisher and elle posted are probably around $10k if not more, if such fine tsavorites are still available on the market.

Another alternative is lab tsav.

 

[123ducklings]

I forgot this one. It was sold by Gene @PrecisionGem just a few weeks ago. Now that was a killer tsav!



There two are mine:

A tsav from Precision Gem


A mint garnet from Gilded Lane on Etsy.

Thank you so much for the pictures!!! Gorgeous stones, and that pear ring is a real knockout! Your second ring (Gilded Lane) is totally mesmerizing

 

[123ducklings]

Like @lilmosun I also prefer vividly saturated, slightly bluish, not yellowish tsavorite. However, I think I started collecting too late, and all that seemed affordable and worth my money that I've been able to get was this suite of five emerald cut tsavorites I set into a crown ring I designed. Any tsavorites over a carat is expensive, and prices for over two carats are astronomical (at least from my perspective) because the mines are shut down and it's not clear when the governments of Kenya and Tanzania will allow the mines to reopen the way they were run before.

Right now unless money is no object, or if you don't mind buying the mint or gems with more yellow, it's not a good time to buy tsavorites, in my humble opinion. Stock is limited and prices are high. Honestly, I see more value in buying fine qualify emerald at the same price point, if you want a larger size. The examples Rfisher and elle posted are probably around $10k if not more, if such fine tsavorites are still available on the market.

Another alternative is lab tsav.

@voce I was hoping you’d post, I really admire your eye for stones and your creativity and boldness with jewelry designs.

Thank you so much for that info about the mines! I’ve noticed major variation in prices, especially in the 2ct range and beyond as you mention. I’m in no rush to buy unless the right stone were to really grab me, so I’m happy to window shop and wait for prices to come down (if they will, I hope?).

I have noticed comparatively low prices for loose stones on Etsy. Could you shed any light? They claim to be natural tsavs; I’m wondering if it’s just a complete fraud and I’d actually receive glass/YAG, or if they are just inferior rough/cutting that makes the price. I don’t have the knowledge or expertise to determine what I’m looking at yet just from some listing pictures.

 

[voce]

I have noticed comparatively low prices for loose stones on Etsy. Could you shed any light? They claim to be natural tsavs; I’m wondering if it’s just a complete fraud and I’d actually receive glass/YAG, or if they are just inferior rough/cutting that makes the price. I don’t have the knowledge or expertise to determine what I’m looking at yet just from some listing pictures.

Oh, thank you for trusting my opinion so much. I'm just a really enthusiastic hobbyist.

There are bound to be plenty of natural tsavs out there, just as there are plenty of rubies out there, but few rubies/tsavs I consider beautiful. Do the comparatively low price tsavs look like this?

This item is unavailable - Etsy

Find the perfect handmade gift, vintage & on-trend clothes, unique jewelry, and more… lots more.

www.etsy.com

Look at the fourth picture, the hand pic. There's a lot of "bleh" greens when it comes to grossular garnet, and then there's vivid bluish green, which represents the finest, as is what I see in Rfisher and Elle's tsavs. Lighter greens I would personally call mint garnet, though unscrupulous sellers would probably call even a yellowish light green stone a tsav, just as some would call a pink sapphire without red a ruby.

There are fake irradiated green gems that might be masquerading as tsavs in the shops of unscrupulous sellers. Please buy responsibly.

 

[123ducklings]

Oh, thank you for trusting my opinion so much. I'm just a really enthusiastic hobbyist.

There are bound to be plenty of natural tsavs out there, just as there are plenty of rubies out there, but few rubies/tsavs I consider beautiful. Do the comparatively low price tsavs look like this?

This item is unavailable - Etsy

Find the perfect handmade gift, vintage & on-trend clothes, unique jewelry, and more… lots more.

www.etsy.com

Look at the fourth picture, the hand pic. There's a lot of "bleh" greens when it comes to grossular garnet, and then there's vivid bluish green, which represents the finest, as is what I see in Rfisher and Elle's tsavs. Lighter greens I would personally call mint garnet, though unscrupulous sellers would probably call even a yellowish light green stone a tsav, just as some would call a pink sapphire without red a ruby.

There are fake irradiated green gems that might be masquerading as tsavs in the shops of unscrupulous sellers. Please buy responsibly.

Thank you so much!

 

[Polyhex]

Like @lilmosun

Your crown ring is absolutely stunning and to die for!

 

[dk168]

This one was sold on Yvonne's site a while ago:



DK

 

[LD]

@chrono has an amazing Tsav and I have a sneaky suspicion that @TL has one too and @Arcadian has a stunning one. Hopefully they'll be along to share..

These are a couple of mine. I find green stones difficult to photograph so I'm attaching the Vendor's photo which is how I see the gem from Swala and then a pretty graduated Tsav pendant.

 

[123ducklings]

@chrono has an amazing Tsav and I have a sneaky suspicion that @TL has one too and @Arcadian has a stunning one. Hopefully they'll be along to share..

These are a couple of mine. I find green stones difficult to photograph so I'm attaching the Vendor's photo which is how I see the gem from Swala and then a pretty graduated Tsav pendant.

Thank you so much! Both beautiful! That pendant is really interesting — something I wouldn’t have thought to do but I love it. It reminds me of the similarly graduated parcel of pink sapphires someone just bought. This might be my next rabbit hole, lol

 

[partgypsy]

I was lucky to snag my ring on ebay (3 carat stone). I don't think it is the top of the top for one because it does have significant eye visible inclusions but- the color is great (saturated and no gray, off colors). I got it appraised. Guess what the stone alone was appraised for? It was a lot. Because of the color. That said I also like the light and bright colored tsavorites to; it is more important to find a stone you love how it looks, that is in your price range, that is priced fairly than other criteria. Tsavorites are not treated stones.

 

[budmanbudman10]

I'd recommend the Instagram seller Bahia_jewellery who sold me my super saturated and bright tsavs (between 1-2cts)

 

[Catmom]

I love Tsavorites!

Here are some of mine...

 

[T L]

Here’s another beauty to add to the thread.

Jewel of the Week - Tsavorite Garnet Ring

By Erika W. Fabulous Jewelry Shared by Pricescope Members This week’s jewel is a classic Tsavorite garnet and diamond ring posted by yingh. Thanks everyone for posting your gorgeous jewelry […]

www.pricescope.com

 

[Rfisher]

There's a lot of "bleh" greens when it comes to grossular garnet, and then there's vivid bluish green, which represents the finest, as is what I see in Rfisher and Elle's tsavs.

Sadly I have no fine Tsavorite.
I wish!

 

[Arcadian]

I got a couple.

The oval is from Swala. And my goodness you can sure tell its near top stuff! NEVER gets dark, sparkles like you wouldn't believe in every light you can think of. I forget the size, I think 1.47cts??? its been so freaking long, but its very much a green with a blue modifier.

I dare not put that ring all the way on because it would need to be cut off (my fingers/hands are very swollen!)

the 2nd stone is 1.63ct stone, which has a yellow modifier. I don't think its half bad really considering what I paid for it, its freaking awesome!!! Not as well cut, but Its still a decent cut. I expect it will set well...but I spent more on the damn report....lol

Then I purchased a few sets of Melee....lol yeah well.. don't know what to do with those either. They're quite light but they're also very very small (1.2 and 2.1mm respectively)

These are quickies with a crop so you can see why I fell in love with them all over again when I moved to SoFL.




Outside



Inside


Lots of itty bitty melee!

 

[budmanbudman10]

Forgot to post a photo before (oops!). You can see these two tsavs in not great lighting that makes the other stones look bad - but the tsavs still look vividly saturated and bright

 

[voce]

This is my bright green tsav, which I lucked out on and was able to acquire on LoupeTroop from another PSer before she went trade. One of my earliest CS acquisitions, so I almost forgot about it. Not the super saturated kind, not bluish. This is the more affordable type of tsav, but even this color is hard to find over two carats.

 

[NKOTB]

Here’s my 4 ct included tsav pear from Prima, My 2.49 ct oval from Precision Gem, 4+ ct mint, 1.9 ct mint from Peter Torraca, and a little tsavvy mint cushion from Gene. Let’s just say I understand your curiosity about greens.

 

[lilmosun]

Here’s my 4 ct included tsav pear from Prima, My 2.49 ct oval from Precision Gem, 4+ ct mint, 1.9 ct mint from Peter Torraca, and a little tsavvy mint cushion from Gene. Let’s just say I understand your curiosity about greens.

No fair hanging onto all of those beauties unset

 

[NKOTB]

No fair hanging onto all of those beauties unset

I know, it’s terrible! A 2021 goal, to set one!

 

[lilmosun]

Color me green with envy.

My tsavs and mint garnets. I joined late in the game but was able to get all of mine at a great price preloved. The tsavs are smaller but I really wanted a deeper green w/ slight blue modifier that didn't go black at all which was hard to find when I was looking. The mint has a bit of a wonky cut but I couldn't pass it up due to the saturation/tone/size.

 

[LemonMoonLex]

My moody gal ♥

She's much darker than many would prefer but I actually adore darker tsavs, especially when they have lots of blue!

I forgot her ct weight but I vaguely remember her being 1.2-1.3cts.



I've since taken her out of her simple bezel setting & have very far plans of setting her in a diamond halo.

 

[Mrs_Strizzle]

Here's mine. Just shy of 5cts. She does have some internal beauty marks as I call them, but we are in love, lol

 

[elle_71125]

Here's mine. Just shy of 5cts. She does have some internal beauty marks as I call them, but we are in love, lol

Oh baby! I need to see more.