NO, Dragon Garnet belongs to the larger family of Garnets, crystalizing in cubic system, and do not have any cleavage planes. (Cleavage planes can make even otherwise hard gems and minerals— for example, Topaz— brittle in one or more directions, therefore prone to accidental damage when struck hard in a direction of the cleavage plane). Dragon Garnet with absence of cleavage planes is also fairly hard, 7.5 Mohs scale.

Based on GIA and AGL research, Dragon Garnet has high Chromium content, medium high levels of Vanadium, and low Iron. Chromium causes this gemstone to glow under UV light wavelengths. UV 395nm produces the most dramatic effect, turning the gem glowing fire engine red, while UV 365nm produces a cinnamon-orange color. Dragon Garnet loses its fluorescence not only with increased iron content, but also with increased Vanadium content, which was a surprise to several major gem labs.

YES, Dragon Garnet is moderately hard gemstone with excellent toughness. Garnet has been used in jewelry for centuries and is suitable for everyday wear.

In the past all Garnets (with exception of Green Grossular (Tsavorite, Merelani Mint Garnet) were thought to be non-fluorescent. Than during  the past 20-25 years, a few single finds of fluorescent Pyrope and fluorescent Malaya Garnet were discovered, but they were never officially researched by the major labs. Now there are only two confirmed sources of Dragon Garnet, which makes them one of the rarest gems out there. The unique physical properties like color change, color shifting, fluorescence and rare earth element content come together to make them rare, unique and beautiful.

YES, daytime colors of Tanzanian material are typically pastel lavender to light purplish pink. Gems from Kenya are exhibiting more warm tones in pastel cinnamon, yellowish mahogany, gold greenish, etc. Both Tanzanian and Kenyan material have medium to strong levels of fluorescence.

Business partners Ales P. Krivanek of Ravenstein Gem Co. LLC, and Amson Magaju, Kenya have identified two independent sources of Dragon Garnet in 2022. One in Tanzania and the other in Kenya. According to independent but unproven information from one of the trade members, a third occurrence of Dragon Garnet has been found in more recently in 2023 in Madagascar. The gems from Madagascar look literally identical to the Tanzanian material so we at Ravenstein-Germany.com  are taking this information with a grain of salt.

YES, Dragon Garnet is one of the rarest most beautiful types of Garnets. When it comes to sheer rarity these gems, they are comparable to Demantoid, Topazolite, and other high value gems, therefore highly suitable as a safe harbor for your money, and as a general investment.

Dragon Garnet is chemically Color Change Fluorescent Chromium>Vanadium Malaya Garnet. Single rare finds were reported for the past approximately 20 years, but it wasn’t until May of 2022 that a large deposit was identified in Kenya by Amson Magaju, Kenya, and Ales Patrick Krivanek, USA. A second large deposit of Dragon Garnet was discovered in Kenya in June 2022. Both of these deposits continue producing fairly large sustainable quantities of this rare, unique type of Garnet. The name “Dragon Garnet” was given to this gemstone by Ales Patrick Krivanek of Ravenstein Gem Co. LLC, based on a direct output from our customers and social media followers.

YES, Dragon Garnet was first studied by AGL in New York, but as of writing this, AGL did not produce any official document. GIA purchased samples from Ales Patrick Krivanek of Ravenstein Gem Co, LLC in mid. 2022 and they published a well-researched article in Gems & Gemology, Winter 2022, Vol. 58, No. 4 issue. A copy of GIA’s article can be found here on this website.