Tsavorite is an example of the fact that even nowadays, it is still possible for new gemstones to emerge onto the market. Tsavorite is a rare member of the garnet
family and a new member to the jewelry market. As it is a garnet, it is the birthstone
for the month of January. Tsavorite is a rich, deep green emerald
colored garnet. It was discovered in Tsavo National Park, Kenya, in 1967 by Campbell Bridges, and was introduced to the trade in the 1970's. Tiffany
's Henry Platt, along with Campbell Bridges, coined the name tsavorite in 1974. Tsavorite looks similar to an emerald but is more brilliant and durable. Fine quality tsavorite stones over two carats are more rare than emerald, and in general, tsavorite only costs about one-tenth the price of an emerald. Because tsavorite is not very well known, there is not too much demand for the stone, as say, there is for an emerald, which is one of the reasons it is far less expensive. The gemstone is in demand more by collectors and connoisseurs, than by the general public.