Hessonite
Garnet
Hessonite is a variety of grossular garnet. The color ranges from golden yellow to brownish orange or brownish red, as well as reddish orange to red. The first Sri Lankan stones were nicknamed the "cinnamon stone" due to their brownish red color. A perfectly colored hessonite is a bright golden orange that resembles a combination of honey and orange with an internal fire. While the clearest gems are the most prized, inclusions in hessonite are common, and often give stones an oily or roiled appearance.
General Information
LWUV: Yellow Stones: Weak Salmon pink, orange Red or violet red
Hessonite Colors
-
Brown -
Orange -
Red -
Yellow
Alternate Names
Essonite, Cinnamon Stone, Hyacinth Or Jacinth
Countries of Origin
Tanzania, United Republic Of; Myanmar; Afghanistan; Russian Federation; Czechia; United States of America; Madagascar; Portugal; Greece; Austria; Mozambique; Pakistan; Unknown; China; Brazil; Poland; Slovakia; Nigeria; Sri Lanka; Kenya; Switzerland; Taiwan (Province of China); India; Spain; New Zealand; Canada; Norway; Italy; Australia; Peru; Germany
Care
Normal Care
More About Hessonite
In Sri Lanka, the most prolific hessonite source, cinnamon oil is a popular product. It was the first miners who came across hessonite garnet who gave it the name of ‘cinnamon stone’ believing that it closely resembled the color of cinnamon oil. Hessonite garnet is deeply rooted in Indian mythology. It was believed to counter the evil influences of Rahu, the legendary immortal head of a snake that swallows the sun or the moon causing eclipses.