Andradite (var: Demantoid)

Item Description

When it comes to the most desirable and valuable Garnet gems in the world, Demantoid has to be at the top of the list. Demantoid (a variety of Andradite) gets its name from Diamond due to the amazingly high refractive index of the material, which is the highest of any Garnet gems. In addition, the color of these stones is matched by only a few other green gems on the market. The rich green color is often due to chromium content, but it's not required as all green Andradite is referred to as Demantoid. Fine quality Demantoid gems are only found in a few places on Earth, most famously from the initial discovery near the Telyanskaya River of the Nizhnii-Tagil Copper Deposit, in the Ural Mountains of Russia, but in 2008-2009 there was a significant yet limited discovery of some superb Demantoids in Madagascar. The quality and color of these piece rivals pieces I have seen from Italy, Namibia or even Russia. This particular sparkler is a beautiful strong green color gem with a "step oval" cut and very slight inclusions. The color of this gem is actually does a slight shift from green with a slight yellow overtone under halogen light to green with more of a blue overtone in sunlight. Faceted Demantoid stones are highly sought after on the market today and it be said that undoubtedly some of the finest Demantoids in the world come from Madagascar. This locality is completely finished and no more will be found, so if you're in the market for a wonderful nearly 2 carat Demantoid either for your collection or a piece of jewelry, don't miss out on this one. For reference, at the AGTA Show in Tucson this year, we saw several Madagascar Demantoids, and some were priced as high as $5,000 per carat retail. This particular stone is valued at $6,370 retail.