History & Introduction
For those who are born in the month of January for them garnet is the birthstone.
It is a wonderful stone with excellent features and a variety of uses. Garnet is
not a single mineral, but a group contains closely related, isomorphs minerals that
form a series with each other. Garnet mainly comes in red, and the origin of the
name "garnet" lies in this deep red hue.
The name "garnet" is derived from the Medieval Latin word, "granatum" that is an
adjective meaning "dark-red". The word might get its name from "pomegranate" because
of the color of the seed coats or even shape. But, the word is derived from another
Latin word of Medieval age; "granum", meaning red dye. The use of red garnet is
mainly seen centuries back years, during the time of the Egyptian pharaohs for both
decorative and ceremonial purposes. During ancient period the Romans wore garnet
rings and traded garnet gemstones. In fact, in antiquity garnet with other red gemstones
cut en cabochon.
The Latin word, "carbunculus" refers to a burning piece of coal or ember. This may
have been indicated to garnet because of its bright color. Large deposits of red
garnet were discovered in Bohemia (Central Europe) around the 16th century and later
gain popularity in the jewelry industry in the area. Red is the most commonly occurring
color, garnet is available in every color found. One of the most recently discovered
colors of garnet is the blue garnet, which is rare. It was discovered in the late
1990s in Madagascar.
The variations of Garnets are very less in physical characteristics and some of
the members are so alike that they are indistinguishable from each other without
x-ray analysis. The members of each group intermingle with each other freely. They
were even famous in the ancient Greek and Roman civilizations. As per the Talmud,
the only light on Noah's ark was given with the help of a large Garnet. During the
medieval period of Europe, Garnet was a medium to nurture faith, truth and constancy,
and to dismiss melancholy. Garnet even used as a talisman in the Crusades for both
the Christians and their Muslim enemies.
Recognise - Garnet is recognized due to the availability in metamorphic
rock, its hardness, color, refractive index and cubic crystal structure. However,
the fastest way to know about garnet is with the use of strong neodymium magnets.
Neodymium magnets attracts Garnet because of high concentrations of iron and/or
manganese.
Usages - It is not only an ornamental jewel, but the strong curative
powers and protective energies made the stone invaluable. Garnets are important
minerals, and they are mainly in use for the gemstone uses. The specimen that is
transparent are used in making different kinds of jewelry and dark red is the most
extensively used color. Other Garnet forms such as the green Tsavorite, yellow Grossular,
reddish-orange Spessartine and Demantoid even make fine gemstones.
Buying Guide
Color - Garnet is available in authentic colors like yellow, orange,
green, peach, purple, red, blue (rare), brown and pink. But, the common color that
occur is red and the rarest is blue. In case of color change varieties the occurrence
of garnet is also rare, which have a different color depending on whether they are
viewed in incandescent or natural light. The rarest color-change garnet appears
blue in daylight, and under torch light the changes are to purplish-red. Other color-change
garnets are beige, green, grey or brown in daylight, and change to reddish or purplish-pink
under incandescent light. In fact the color of garnet is considered as the most
important feature.
Clarity and Lustre - Garnet shows a vitreous (glassy) luster. The
demantoid garnet that is a green kind of andradite, and consist of a high refractive
index and is prized for its brilliance and adamantine (diamond-like) luster. Garnets
are generally clean stones, still almandine garnets sometimes have an asbestos fiber
presence. These additions are the reason of asterism (a star effect) that is treasured
because of its rarity. Additionally, garnet with orange color like spessartite and
hessonite tends to show eye-visible additions. Andradite garnet is famous for its
distinctive, horsetail-like inclusions.
Cut and Shape - Garnets are completely versatile and can be cut
in any fashion and shape. Red garnet are said to be cut into standard shapes, however
in case of valuable garnets, which are not frequently found in large sizes, like
tsavorite and demantoid, that are cut into shapes retaining the maximum carat weight.
Garnet Treatment - Garnet is not artificially enhanced.
Gemological Characteristics: