Your guide to Mandarin Garnet gems

Mandarin Garnet

This is a variety of the garnet family, loved by all for its fiery orange colour. It is also known as the orange spessartite garnet depending on the color. Redder specimens are generally called orange spessartite garnet while the more orange specimens are referred to as mandarin garnets. Most traders will refer to all gems by their ‘stage name’ of mandarin garnet.

Spessartite garnet is quite rare and there are no large deposits being mined at present, however with either specimen it is rare to find gems over 2 carats. The largest known stones to be found in Africa were around 11 carats. A single carat stone can cost from $300 to $750.larger stones are far more expensive due to their rarity.

Many people prefer the mandarin garnet to the fancy orange sapphires as the colour of the garnet is much more intense. However when choosing a piece for personal use such as in jewellery, it is your own personal preference that will determine how much a gemstone is worth to you.

For information on other stones in the garnet family see garnet, mandarin garnet, demantoid garnet, Tsavorite Garnet on our gemstone information pages for further details.