Colour: Almost all colours (most common red)
Hardness: 6.5-7.5
Fluorescence: None
Transparency: Transparent-translucent
History and Lore
A new year makes for a new start. And what better way to start the new year than with one of the most underrated and diverse gemstones, the garnet. Fun fact, the name “garnet” comes from the medieval Latin granatus which. interestingly enough translates to “pomegranate”, no doubt in reference to the common red colour of the stone and the roundness of its raw state. In Greek mythology pomegranates were often used as gifts of love and symbols of eternity, which has led to us using the granatus’ as a 2nd year wedding anniversary presents. Aw, sweet!
Carved garnet signet rings were used by Roman noblemen to stamp the wax seals of important letters and documents. In the Medieval Ages garnets were believed to be a cure for what they called “melancholia”, which we know today as depression. They also thought the gem would cure them of nightmares and diseased livers. Indian astrology has a very similar belief, in that they believe garnets help with eliminating negative feelings, like depression and guilt, as well as reenforcing positive feelings of mental clarity and confidence. Even today in the Christian faith the blood-red stone is seen as a symbol of Christ’s sacrifice. And the Koran dictates that the garnet illuminates the Fourth Heaven. That is a pretty impressive resume.
Colour
| Name |
Description |
Image |
| Pryope | red with a tint of brown |
 |
| Almandine | red with a tint of violet |
 |
| Spessartite | red with a tint of orange |
 |
| Grossular | green, yellow, copper-brown |
 |
| Demantoid | green |
 |
| Uvarovite | emerald green |
 |
One of the more exciting variations was just recently discovered in 1995, in the republic of Mali, which is of course why the stone was creatively named the Mali garnet *she says sarcastically *. This variation is a blend of grossular and andradite. The exciting part is the mali garnet actually changes colour, depending on the light. In bright fluorescent light it appears green while in daylight the stone shifts to reddish purple. How cool is that?
Origins
Garnets come from all over the world. Historically, most of the red pyrope garnets, commonly used in European artifacts, were supplied by Bohemia. Where even is that? Well, it’s now known as Czechoslovakia. In the Victorian age mining, treating, and setting garnets was a rich industry for the country. They were the garnet specialists. Only the best garnets came from Bohemia. Even to this day Bohemian garnets are famous for their beautiful, small cut stones, clustered together to resemble – surprise, surprise – the seeds of a pomegranate.
Specifically, the different species of garnets come from these regions:
- Pyrope – Czechoslovakia, USA, Sri Lanka, Brazil, Zambia, Tanzania
- Almandine – Sri Lanka, India, Afghanistan, Brazil, Austria, Czechoslovakia
- Spessartite – Sri Lanka, Brazil, USA, Malagasy Republic, Sweden
- Grossular – Sri Lanka, Canada, Pakistan, South Africa, Tanzania, Russia, USA
- Demantoid. – Germany, France, Italy, Switzerland
- Uvarovite – Urals, Finland, Poland, India, USA, Canada
Hardness
With various types of garnets comes various levels of hardness, but on average garnets are a relatively durable stones ranging between 6.5 and 7.5 on the Mohs scale of hardness. This value tells us that garnets are more susceptible to scratches, chipping, and ware and tare than more precious stones such as rubies, diamonds, and sapphires. Thus, garnets are not the best choice for daily wear and require more care than you’d expect.
Care and Maintenance
Conclusion
Due to its label as a semi-precious stone garnets get often get overlooked and are thought of as cheaper pieces. When in reality garnets are an excitingly diverse and historically rich stones that make for a great birth stone and/or 2nd year anniversary gift. You can’t you go wrong with such a jewel.