• 2.37ct reddish purple cushion cut Rhodolite Garnet
• Measures 7.5 x 7.5 x 4.79mm
• Purchased from Salma in Tanzania
• Cut by artisanal miners in Chiang Mai, Thailand

Rhodolite is the reddish purple variety of garnet that we are admittedly obsessed with here at ANZA Gems. Some of the best Rhodolite in the world comes out of the ground in East Africa–with colors ranging from peach to vibrant raspberry to deep red wine. Red garnets graced the necks of Egyptian pharaohs, and in Ancient Rome they used them in signet rings to stamp important documents. 

Garnet is the birthstone for the month of January. 

Gems from the heart

Moyo means 'heart' in Kiswahili. Our new project expands our Moyo Gems cutting from one person in the US, Beth Stier, to a group of five independent artisanal cutters in Chiang Mai, Thailand. These gems are beautifully precision cut by Gao and Khal (husband + wife) along with Lek, Yod, and Albert. Gao does all the dopping and polishing and Albert cuts the majority of the melee-sized gems. This kind of cutting efficiency can allow us to purchase more of the smaller East African rough gems, which brings fully traceable gemstone melee to the market AND provides a valuable outlet for the gem miners in East Africa: win/win!

A Moyo gem gives back a higher percentage of the sale than an ANZA gem, and this amount is re-invested into the Moyo Gems program to help run market days and support local community needs.

SKU #M2788