Exceptional Gemstone: Tsavorite Garnet - 16.88 Ct.. Komolo Mine, 20 Km South of Komolo Village, Lelatema Mts, Simanjiro D...

Description

TSAVORITE

Exceptional Gemstone: Tsavorite Garnet - 16.88 Ct.
Komolo Mine, 20 Km South of Komolo Village, Lelatema Mts, Simanjiro District, Manyara Region, Tanzania

The first discovery of Tsavorite in the world was at a remote location in Tanzania that was overshadowed by the more recent Kenyan discoveries. During its short career as a producing mine, the Komolo deposit produced two exceptional pieces of rough in 1973. The better of the two was a pure, medium green chunk weighing 42 carats: some 20 times the weight of 'normal' rough from the mine and possessing fine clarity as well as excellent color. It ended up going to Idar-Oberstein: the German center of fine gemstone cutting. It remained hidden in a safe for some 20 years before being cut by master gem cutter Alfred Huth in 1994, after weeks of careful examination and analysis. The result was a stunning combination of size, color and clarity that even now, is unequalled by other Tsavorites from any mine. Faceted to an oval shape, and featuring a modified brilliant cut, this particular stone, when seen in 1999 by Campbell Bridges (the discoverer and owner of the most successful Tsavorite mining operation in the world) caused him to remark that this stone was one of the finest Tsavorites he had seen in 30 years of mining. Accompanying the stone is a cert from AGL (# CS 65944) that verifies its East African origin and identity along with other pertinent descriptive details. The cert indicates that the stone has not been enhanced or treated in any way and is completely natural.
Measurements: 15.11 x 13.58 x 8.78 mm, 16.88 cts.
Offered at no reserve.

Provenance: Rainbow of Africa Collection
Accompanied by AGL Certificate # CS 65944



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