3.39ct. VVS Natural Round Purple Pink To Red Color Change MALAYA GARNET

Description

Malaya (Malaia) garnet is one of the rarer and more interesting 'hybrid' varieties of garnet. It is primarily a mix of Pyrope and Spessartine, which was first discovered in the 1960's. It was discovered in the Umba River Valley bordering Tanzania and Kenya, which remains the primary source for Malaya garnet. GIA classifies Malaya garnet as only a Pyrope-Spessartite species, but this may not be the case for all Malaya garnet.  In some cases, stones also contained minor traces of Grossular and Andradite garnet types. Research has now shown that its composition can be highly variable, ranging widely in content of Spessartite, Pyrope, Almandine, Grossular and Andradite.
Since its discovery, the production and mining of Malaya garnet has been very irregular, and because of its rarity, it is highly prized by gem collectors. Larger specimens, especially those over 3 to 5 carats, increase in value substantially and can demand very high premiums.
Malaya garnet occurs in a variety of unique and interesting colors including pinkish-orange, reddish-orange and yellowish-orange, all with varying light and dark tones. The rarest Malaya colors include honey-peach, cinnamon, pinkish-orange and near-colorless. Stones with o
range hues
are typically rarer than reddish, and stones with lesser amounts of brown are considered more desirable. Malaya garnet is known to exhibit scintillating flashes of red, incomparable to any other type of garnet. The cause of the color is manganese and sometimes iron. Like most garnets, Malaya garnet is typically never treated or enhanced in any way.
This gemstone is likely a mixture of Pyrope and Almandine, based on its color variations from purplish-pink to red. The gem is a round cut stone with a diameter of 7 mm and a height of 5 mm and it weighs is 3.39 carats. To facilitate independent laboratory authentication, there is a 30-day return policy.