Garnet is made up of types of several minerals exhibiting different colours of the rainbow. Pyrope, almandine, spessartine, grossular and andradite are the key garnets to know. Garnet was first discovered by ancient Egyptians and was used in art and jewellery as a symbol of good health. Garnet was very popular during the Victorian era and was used in almost every piece of jewellery during that time.
Garnets were originally sourced from Bohemia during the Victorian era and then from the Ural mountains of Russia in the 19th century. Today most of the garnet supply comes from Africa:
Garnets range in hardness between 6.5 and 7.5 on the Mohs scale of hardness. In simple terms this means that the stone can be scratched or damaged much easier than some other stones such as rubies, sapphires and diamonds.
Most garnets can be cleaned with warm soapy water and a soft brush. Some treated stones may do better with ultrasonic cleaning unless they have fractures or have been fracture filled.
Orange, yellow, purple, red and green
Transparent with a glassy shine. Red garnets have no visible inclusions. Orange garnets have visible inclusions. Some of these inclusions can lead to a rare effect leading to a higher price.
Standard
Demantoid and tsavorite are found in smaller sizes. Prices can increase significantly for larger sizes of this variety. Other garnets are found in larger sizes.
The gorgeous garnet is a stone with many colours. The name garnet is derived from the Latin word ganatus meaning pomegranate. This stone is most commonly associated with a beautiful red colour. This stone also comes in various other colours such as orange, yellow, purple and green. Besides the attractiveness of this stone, it is also believed to bestow passion, success & strength to the wearer. If you’re looking to cultivate positive feelings, faith and attract friends then this is the stone for you.
