The facts
What malaia garnet actually is
Malaia garnet is classified as pyrope–spessartine garnet, with the composition (Mg,Mn)₃Al₂(SiO₄)₃. It crystallises in the cubic system.
Colour comes from manganese with iron and vanadium, which is also what a laboratory looks at when it is asked whether a colour is natural.
Refractive index 1.74–1.76. Specific gravity around 3.78–3.94. Cleavage: none. Those three numbers separate it from most of what imitates it.
Where malaia garnet comes from
Malaia garnet is produced at Umba Valley, Tanzania and Bekily, Madagascar.
The locality is part of the description, not a footnote — two stones of the same weight from two of these places are not the same stone.
Is malaia garnet treated?
None.
That makes disclosure simple: there is nothing to declare. It also means a seller offering a "treated" version of this material is offering something else.
What malaia garnet is confused with
In the trade malaia garnet is most often mistaken for, or substituted by, Spessartite, Hessonite or Padparadscha.
The separation is rarely a matter of opinion: refractive index 1.74–1.76 and specific gravity 3.78–3.94 settle most of it in a minute, and magnification settles the rest.
What malaia garnet is used for
Demand for malaia garnet comes from jewellery and mineral collecting, which is why one price per carat never covers it.
We quote each application in the unit that trade actually buys in, by the carat or by the specimen.
Durability and care
Hardness 7–7.5; cleavage none. That combination decides what it can safely be set into.
With no cleavage plane to worry about, the practical limit is abrasion rather than breakage, and it takes daily wear well.
Warm water, mild soap and a soft brush. Avoid ultrasonic cleaners on anything fracture-filled, stabilised, dyed or visibly included.
What malaia garnet costs
As a guide, malaia garnet trades around $50–500/ct.
That is a range, not a quote. Colour, size, clarity, cut and origin move the figure a long way inside it, and the only honest price is one given against a specific stone. Send us what you need and we will price it.
Questions
Is malaia garnet treated?
None.
Where does malaia garnet come from?
Umba Valley, Tanzania and Bekily, Madagascar. Origin affects price, so we name the locality rather than the country on every quote.
Is malaia garnet hard enough to wear every day?
Yes. At 7–7.5 on the Mohs scale with no cleavage plane, it handles daily wear well. The practical limit is gradual abrasion rather than chipping.
How much does malaia garnet cost?
Indicatively $50–500/ct. Colour, size, clarity and origin move the price a long way within that, so treat it as a range and ask for a quote against a specific stone.
What is malaia garnet confused with?
Most often Spessartite, Hessonite and Padparadscha. A refractive index of 1.74–1.76 and a specific gravity near 3.78–3.94 separate it quickly.
Related stones
Looking for malaia garnet?
Tell us the size, the quality and what it is for. We source it, photograph it and quote it — with the locality named.
Ask about malaia garnet