HESSONITE GEMSTONE
Hessonite is considered the traditional birthstone for the people born in the month of January. As per Vedic astrology, this stone proves useful in controlling the ill-effects of Rahu (the moon's ascending node) and is believed to bring lot of luck, happiness and success to the wearer.
Many gemstones that were believed to be Zircon when found were found to be Hessonite actually in later stages. This similarity in appearance is also shared with spessartite garnets that when found in better quality cost the buyer more. Hessonite belongs to grossularite garnet group and is not so easily found as compared to other gemstones.
This stone is famous as Gomed (cow's fat) in India and is advised to be worn by the people who want to achieve new heights of success and also get rid of undue sensual desires that they feel due to the influence of the moon's ascending node on them.
Common colours in which hessonite is found are brown-red, honey-yellow and orange-brown and its purer untreated varieties appear cloudy and hazy in appearance. Golden syrup like inclusions in the gemstone can help a person distinguish it from similar coloured orange zircon, citrine and topaz. Cat's eye effect in this stone is true rarity and is sold for much better price comparatively.
This stone is also known as cinnamon stone because of the hue similar to that of this spice. It belongs to category of new-silicates and is known among minerologists by the chemical formula Ca3Al2(SiO4)3. India, Brazil, Sri Lanka, Canada, Tanzania and Madagascar are few of the countries where the deposits of this semi-precious stone are found.
Hessonite is different from other members of garnet because of the presence of manganese in it. This element actually is responsible for the distinct colour that it displays. In fact, other features like high specific gravity, hardness and colour are so different in this gemstone that one can identify it easily from other garnets infallibly.
Oval and cushion shaped crystals of this gemstone are developed mostly by the lapidaries and one can choose emerald and pear shapes too for bringing forth the variety in shapes that this gemstone can display.
Hessonite is best suited for astrology jewellery as this can be used untreated without compromising on its aesthetic value. It normally is not used for fashion or fine jewellery and is used only to come out of the problems caused by troublesome planetary positions. This stone is uniquely found in higher carat weights too, a feature that is not found in other rarer varieties of garnet family members.
