2.75" Deep-Red, Gemmy Hessonite Garnets - Italy

About Hessonite Garnets

Hessonite garnet—often called the “cinnamon stone” for its warm orange-brown to honey-amber hues—is a gem-quality variety of grossular garnet prized for its rich color and distinctive internal texture. Typically found in metamorphosed limestones and skarn deposits, hessonite forms under high-temperature conditions that give it its characteristic silky, “treacly” translucence. Unlike the glassy clarity of some other garnets, hessonite often shows subtle internal swirls or a slightly granular appearance, a diagnostic feature long noted by gemologists. Major sources include Sri Lanka, India, Canada, and Tanzania, where well-formed crystals and gemmy nodules occur.

What sets hessonite garnet apart from other garnet varieties is its unmistakable combination of color and texture. Its signature “cinnamon” to honey-orange tones—caused by trace iron and manganese—are instantly recognizable, but its internal structure is even more distinctive. Under magnification, hessonite displays a ropy, syrup-like internal pattern known as turbulence, created by microscopic inclusions and subtle structural irregularities. This produces a glowing, almost liquid translucence that no other garnet exhibits, making hessonite one of the most easily identifiable and visually unique members of the garnet family.