Grossular var. Tsavorite

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Tsavorite garnet in excellent crystals could be considered to be the most rare of colored garnets of collector quality, I think we would mostly agree. In gems, it is often referred to as the king of colored garnets. Matrix crystals are incredibly rare in nature, both due to formation and to recovery from the gem deposits in which they occur, which are of course mostly worked for economic gem rough material without regard to preserving matrix pieces. This thumbnail specimen is therefore important because of its balanced display on just the right amount of matrix, floating up so the eye can see the whole crystal, at an ideal height in a thumbnail display. Nicely emplaced on a contrasting white matrix of calcite is a superb, glassy and gemmy, emerald-green crystal of tsavorite garnet, measuring 1.5 cm. It is simply perfect in a way that looks carved. The crystal is so gemmy, you can look right through it. This is a highly sophisticated and rare specimen of gem garnet, and on matrix, and perfectly balanced.