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The Vivid Vault · No. 003
7ct Fanta Spessartine Garnet
Pure Fanta Orange · Trillion Cut · 7 Carats
Available
US$3,500 per carat
US$24,500 for the 7ct stone
About A$35,000 for the stone
Priced in US dollars, the currency of the gem trade. The final price is confirmed when you enquire.
At the Hong Kong gem show, Fanta Garnets of this colour sell wholesale for US$3,200 to US$3,500 a carat. In a retail setting, expect two to three times that again.
- OriginNigeria
- ColourFanta orange
- CutTrillion
- Weight7 carats
- Lab ReportOn request
- ViewingsCanberra or Sydney
This stone is from my own private collection. View it in Canberra, Sydney, Brisbane or the Gold Coast, by appointment.
The Details
- Gemstone
- Spessartine Garnet
- Origin
- Nigeria
- Colour
- Pure Fanta orange
- Weight
- 7 carats
- Cut
- Trillion
- Lab report
- Certification on request
- Price
- US$3,500 a carat · US$24,500
- Status
- Available
What Is a Fanta Garnet?
Garnet is a big family of gemstones. Most people picture dark red, but Garnets come in almost every colour.
Spessartine is the orange member of the family. You’ll also see it spelled Spessartite.
The finest spessartines are a pure, bright orange. The trade calls that colour Fanta, after the orange soft drink. You’ll also hear it called mandarin Garnet.
Fanta or Coca-Cola: How Colour Sets the Price
Colour decides what a Spessartine Garnet is worth.
Dark, brownish orangeFanta
Pure to yellowish orange
If a stone is too dark, with a brownish orange, the trade calls it a Coca-Cola colour. Dark, brownish stones are worth less.
If it’s a pure orange, leaning towards yellowish orange, that’s the Fanta colour. It’s the colour collectors want, and it’s rare, especially in bigger stones. This one is pure Fanta.
Where Fanta Garnets Come From
Only a few places in the world have produced fine orange Spessartine.
| Where | When | Colour | Today |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ramona, California, USA | The main source for most of the 1900s | Bright orangy yellow to yellowish orange | Super collector stones, simply not available |
| Namibia | Found in 1991, on the Kunene River | Bright orange: the first mandarin Garnets | Both mines closed in 1998 |
| Nigeria | Found in 1999 | Bright orange | The main source today |
The Ramona and Namibian stones are almost impossible to find now. This one is from Nigeria, the main source today.
A Trillion Cut That Throws Colour
A trillion is a triangle-shaped cut with three points.
This one’s faceting absolutely sparkles. Turn it in the light and it throws out an intense fan of colour.
Why US$3,500 a Carat
Gem dealers buy from each other at wholesale prices. At the Hong Kong gem show, Fanta Garnets of this colour sell wholesale for US$3,200 to US$3,500 a carat.
In the Vault, this one is US$3,500 a carat: US$24,500 for the stone. You pay the wholesale price, with no retail markup on top. In a retail setting, you’d expect to pay two to three times that again.
| Price Per Carat | |
|---|---|
| Three or four years ago | US$500 to US$1,000 |
| Retail today, at two to three times wholesale | US$6,400 to US$10,500 |
| Hong Kong wholesale today | US$3,200 to US$3,500 |
| The Vault | US$3,500 |
A Gem on the Rise
Three or four years ago, Fanta Garnets like this sold for US$500 to US$1,000 a carat. Since then, prices have gone up three to four times.
Fanta Garnet has become one of the most popular gems on the planet, and I expect it to stay that way.
Lab Report on Request
This stone isn’t certified yet. On serious request, we’ll arrange certification from a globally reputable lab.
Make It Your Heirloom
I’d love this Garnet to become a Vivid Jewels heirloom: a ring, a pendant or earrings designed around it, made to be handed down.
Send me your ideas and we’ll design it together. If you’re a collector who wants the stone loose, call me and we’ll talk.
This stone is from my own private collection. View it in Canberra, Sydney, Brisbane or the Gold Coast, by appointment.
Questions About Fanta Garnet
What is a Fanta Garnet?
A Spessartine Garnet in the finest pure orange colour. The trade named the colour after the orange soft drink. It’s also called mandarin Garnet.
What’s the difference between a Fanta and a Coca-Cola Garnet?
Colour. A Fanta Garnet is a pure or yellowish orange. A Coca-Cola Garnet is darker, with a brownish orange colour, and is worth less.
Where do the best orange Garnets come from?
Today most come from Nigeria, and so does this one. Namibia’s mines closed in 1998, and the famous Ramona Garnets from California are no longer available.
Is this Garnet certified?
Not yet. On serious request, we’ll arrange certification from a globally reputable lab.
How much is this Garnet in Australian dollars?
It’s US$3,500 per carat, or US$24,500 for the 7ct stone. The converter at the top of the page shows the price in Australian dollars and other currencies at today’s exchange rate. The final price is confirmed when you enquire. Once we agree, it’s locked at that day’s exchange rate and you have 48 hours to pay.
Can I see the Garnet in person?
Yes. View it in Canberra, Sydney, Brisbane or the Gold Coast, by appointment. Call us on 0401 683 671.
