Garnets come in many colors, with almandite being the most common in jewelry. Other varieties include grossular, hessonite, malaya, pyrope, rhodolite, spessartite, tsavorite, and uvavorite. Garnets are associated with healing and are the birthstone for January.
Garnets are a group of minerals that come in a variety of colors. Most people are familiar with almandite garnet, which is deep red in color. While almandite is common in jewelry, many don’t realize that this is just one of more than ten varieties mined around the world. There are also mixtures of varieties, including some color change types that are the only known garnets to come in shades of blue.
Garnets are commonly made up of minerals such as magnesium, iron, calcium, and aluminum. The presence of other minerals such as chrome or titanium can significantly affect the color. Garnets of any color have a hardness of 6.5-7.5 on the Mohs scale. Although beautiful, care must be taken with these stones, and wearers should probably remove garnet jewelry before performing any household chores.
Since garnets are quite common, they are a great choice for those looking at their paperbacks. With multiple colors to choose from, a good quality stone can be selected for virtually any jewelry requirement. Red and pink varieties with good clarity can often be purchased in sizes from five to ten carats, with an average price of US$20-40 per carat.
For the garnet lover, the following is a list of some garnet varieties:
Grossular can be found in shades of pink, green, orange, or colorless. Most of the rude garnets are found in Tanzania.
Hessonite is found in Sri Lanka and parts of Canada. It is orange to brown in color, with some stones resembling a topaz.
Malaya is found primarily in Tanzania and can range in color from pink to orange to coral.
Pyrope is found in Europe and North America, and resembles the pigeon’s blood color of the best rubies. The stones are generally small in size and are often no larger than two carats.
Rhodolite is mined in both Tanzania and North America. It is also deep purple-red in color, although it can also have pink undertones. It is believed to be a mix between compliment and almandita.
Spessartite is a red colored stone with mainly orange undertones. It is found throughout North America, although large stones are quite rare.
Tsavorite is highly prized with deep green tones. It is found in small numbers in Kenya and Tanzania. Large stones are quite rare and generally very expensive.
Uvavorite is one of the hardest garnets to find. It is light green in color and can rarely be picked up in anything larger than one carat. Although the color is valued by collectors, it is not often used in jewelry.
Today, red garnets are the birthstone for January. Since garnets can be found in so many places, folklore about them is abundant. They are associated with healing, and some ancient cultures believed that garnets could reduce inflammation. Garnets are believed to uplift the mood and give the wearer strength and protection during difficult times. They also signify affection when exchanged between friends, and promise that those two friends will not be apart for long.
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