Natural Hessonite

Hessonite, also known as cinnamon stone or cinnamon garnet, is the most common variety of grossularite. The name comes from the Greek hesson, meaning inferior which is an allusion to the lower hardness and density compared to most other garnet species. With a refractive index of 1.742 to 1.748, and an SG of 3.65 both values are lower than the respective properties in other garnets.

Find your Hessonite

Our Hessonite(s) are available in various shapes, sizes and colors. 6 Hessonite(s), too many to look through? You may select any combination of search options. Colors grade into each other and you can search for more than one color at once. For a better selection, try selecting two or three colors, -- your first choice plus the two closest colors.

Hessonite Profile

Color information:	Brownish-orange, brownish yellow, aurora red
Refractive Index:	1.72-1.74
Chemical Composition:	Ca3Al2(SIO4)3
Hardness:	7.25
Density:	3.65
Crystal Group:	Cubic
Ocurrence:	Sri Lanka, Mexico, Brazil, Canada, Madagascar
Sign of the Zodiac:	N/A
Month of the year:	N/A

Hessonite garnet is an orange, brown, or yellowish variety of grossularite. It is common in the gem gravels of Sri Lanka and Madagascar. Some hessonite is also found in Brazil, Canada, and Mexico and East Africa but Sri Lanka is notably the most important source for hessonites. From a gemological perspective the peculiar and unique treacle type inclusions give the stone´s interior an oily or even glasslike appearance that is a distinctive and easy to recognize.

Looking for other Gemstones?

Search Gems by Color | Advance Search | Step-by-Step Search Wizard