MALAIA GARNET

Weight 4.50 cts

Clarity VVS

Size 11.33 x 11.34 x 4.97 mm

Hardness   6.5

Treatment   None

This is a lovely orange red coloured stone that is beautiful and bright. This stone was earth mined in Tanzania and shows amazing colour. ready to be set.

Mined in Tanzania

Natural

Malaia garnet or Malaya garnet is a gemological varietal name for light to dark pinkish orange, reddish orange, or yellowish orange garnet, that are a mixture of pyrope and spessartite. It is found in east Africa, in the Umba Valley bordering Tanzania and Kenya. Malaia was at first believed to be a type of spessartite garnet. During the 1970’s rough malaia garnets were being mixed with parcels of Rhodolite garnet being offered for sale. These odd color stones were rejected, and the name given to this type of garnet was Malaia, which is a Swahili word meaning outcast. It came into usage for a number of garnets that did not fit into any of the standard categories. Most imperial malaia garnets have microscopic needle-like inclusions that do not detract from the overall beauty of this material. Some of them exhibit a color-shift effect from flourescent to incandescent light.

Type 1 Gemstones

The following gemstones are typically inclusion free, even minor inclusions detract from their value.

Diamond, Amethyst, Beryls(Aquamarine,Morganite), Citrine, Smoky Quartz, topaz, Chrysoberyl, Kunzite, Tanzanite, green Tourmaline, and Blue Zircon

IF     Internally flawless under extreme magnification (Very rare)

F     Flawless

VVS   Minute inclusions under 10x; invisible to the unaided eye

VS     Minor inclusions under 10x; usually invisible to the unaided eye

SI1   Noticeable inclusions under 10x; usually visible to the unaided eye

SI2   Noticeable inclusions under 10x; usually quite visible to the unaided eye

I1     prominent- moderate affect on appearance or durability

I2     prominent - severe affect on appearance or durability

I3     prominent- severe affect on beauty, transparency or durability

Type 2 Gemstones

Gemstones that normally have small inclusions that do not detract from value.

Alexandrite, Andalusite, Iolite, Peridot, Rhodolite, Ruby, Sapphire, Spinel, Tourmaline, Garnet, Amethyst, Red Zircon, Tsavorite; Blue, Orange, Purple, Fluorite.Yellow and Parti-colored Tourmaline

F     Flawless

VVS   Minor inclusions under 10x; usually invisible to the unaided eye

VS     Noticeable inclusions under 10x; often invisible to the unaided eye

SI1   Obvious inclusions under 10x; visible to the unaided eye

SI2   Obvious inclusions under 10x; very apparent to the unaided eye

I1     prominent - moderate affect on appearance or durability

I2     prominent - severe affect on appearance or durability

I3     prominent - severe affect on beauty, transparency or durability