Vessonite garnet

Gem Related Discussion
1

any one have experience or knowledge on this variety of garnet ? It is not listed in the garnet section. Thanks

2

There is no variety of garnet known as “vessonite.” However, that might be a misspelling of “hessonite garnet,” a variety of grossular garnet. It seems that some vendors occasionally sell grossular garnets and/or vesuvianites (which is an idocrase, not a garnet) as “vessonite,” but this is not a generally accepted trade practice.
Here are some discussions on this topic:

https://www.gemologyonline.com/Forum/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=3334
Pedro
IGS Admin

1 Like
3

In ancient times the orangy hessonites were often confused with red-brown zircon, so many intaglios in museums were incorrectly labeled as jacinth ie that colour zircon. However, zircon is more brittle than hessonite so it seems ancient gemstone carvers knew their stuff.