Hessonite (Cinnamon Stone): Properties, Symbolism, Care

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Hessonite is an orange to honey-brown grossular garnet, known as the “cinnamon stone”. It is famous in Sri Lanka and India, where it is called gomed in Vedic astrology.

Key points

Colour	orange, honey yellow, cinnamon orange-brown, reddish brown
Mineral family	grossular garnet, calcium-aluminium silicate, Ca3Al2(SiO4)3
Crystal system	cubic
Hardness (Mohs)	about 7 (6.5 to 7.5 depending on sources)
Density	about 3.6 to 3.7
Origin of the name	Greek hesson, “inferior” (a stone slightly less hard than other gems)
Known deposits	Sri Lanka (Ratnapura), India, Brazil, Tanzania, Madagascar
Distinctive feature	“syrupy” appearance due to fine inclusions
Name in India	gomed (gomedh), stone associated with Rahu in Vedic astrology

What is hessonite?

Hessonite is an orange to honey-brown variety of grossular garnet (Ca3Al2(SiO4)3, a calcium-aluminium silicate). Its colour comes from small amounts of iron and manganese. It is also called the cinnamon stone because of its cinnamon-like, orange-brown tint. It is cubic, without cleavage, with a hardness close to 7 (6.5 to 7.5 depending on sources) and a density of 3.6 to 3.7.

Its name comes from the Greek hesson, “inferior”: it is a little less hard and less brilliant than other yellow gems, such as zircon, with which it was long compared. This is not a value judgement.

A visual feature sets it apart from other garnets: it contains very fine inclusions that give its interior a syrupy or “swirling” look, like syrup not fully mixed. This trait is an indicator of authenticity for gemmologists; it is also why the stone is rarely perfectly clear.

The best-known deposits are those of Sri Lanka (the Ratnapura region, in alluvial deposits), India, Brazil, Tanzania and Madagascar.

Gomed in Vedic astrology

In India, hessonite is called gomed (or gomedh). In the tradition of Vedic astrology (jyotish), it is the stone associated with Rahu, the ascending node of the Moon, one of the nine grahas (“celestial bodies”) of this tradition. It is part of the navaratna, a set of nine stones. Indian astrologers recommend certain weights, metals and days for wearing it.

This is a religious and astrological tradition, which we present as such: it has no scientific validation, and we give no instructions on wearing it. If you are interested in this practice, consult a recognised Vedic astrologer, and be wary of sellers who promise results (wealth, healing, luck): such promises are untrue.

Traditional symbolism

Its warm tones of honey and cinnamon have inspired associations with human warmth, conviviality, courage and creative energy. Modern Western books link it to the sacral chakra.

These ideas are conventions and traditions. Nothing shows that the stone has any effect on destiny, health or prosperity.

Area	Cited correspondence
Chakra	sacral; sometimes solar plexus or root
Element	fire or earth, according to authors
Vedic astrology	Rahu (ascending node of the Moon)
Keywords	warmth, courage, momentum

How to use it

As jewellery: ring, pendant, earrings; cabochon or faceted. Its hardness of about 7 allows regular wear, with care against knocks (guide).
As a collector’s piece: a rough crystal, showing its dodecahedral faces.
As a stone of Indian tradition: for an enthusiast of Vedic astrology, as one of the nine stones of the navaratna (following the advice of your astrologer).
In meditation: observe the syrupy look of the interior in the light, like a small landscape of honey.

Care and cleansing

Cleaning: lukewarm water, mild soap, soft brush.
Sun: no known effect on the colour.
Knocks and heat: avoid blows on the edges and sudden changes in temperature.
Ultrasonic cleaning: avoid it if the stone contains fissures or many inclusions.
Symbolic cleansing: smoke, sound, moonlight (guide).

Recognising a genuine hessonite

Sign	Natural hessonite	Imitation or confusion
Interior	syrupy look, fine “swirling” inclusions	perfectly clear and clean: glass, citrine or topaz
Colour	honey orange to orange-brown, subtly shaded	yellow-orange too uniform and too vivid: glass or heat-treated citrine
Double image	none (singly refractive)	doubled images: zircon, topaz, tourmaline
Weight	fairly heavy (density 3.6 to 3.7)	light: glass, plastic, citrine (density 2.65)

It is confused with citrine, with zircon, with spessartine and, in the trade, with orange glass sold under the name “gomed”. For a stone intended for a traditional use, ask for a laboratory certificate. See real or fake stone and our commitments.

How to choose

Choose a true, saturated colour, a honey orange rather than a dull brown, with a syrupy look that is visible but discreet. Sri Lankan stones are the most sought after. Small stones are affordable; large, clear stones cost more. If the stone is to be used in the Vedic tradition, check its origin and authenticity rather than the price alone.

Pairings: with spessartine for an orange set, or with citrine for yellow tones. Also read our guide.

Frequently asked questions

What is gomed?

It is the Indian name for hessonite, associated with Rahu in Vedic astrology. This use belongs to a tradition, without scientific validation.

Why is hessonite called cinnamon stone?

Because of its brownish-orange colour, close to that of cinnamon.

What is the difference between hessonite and spessartine?

Both are orange garnets. Hessonite is a grossular (calcium), with a syrupy look; spessartine is rich in manganese, heavier and more vivid.

Is hessonite hard?

About 7 on the Mohs scale according to sources (6.5 to 7.5). It withstands regular wear with care.

Why is this stone called “inferior”?

The Greek hesson means inferior: the stone is a little less hard than other yellow gems it was once compared with. It is an old judgement of hardness, not of beauty.