Learn About Garnet
Don't garnets remind you of pomegranate seeds? Well, turns out their name actually comes from a Latin word that means pomegranate!
Garnet
- Silicate
- 6.5 to 7.5 Mohs
- Capricorn Aquarius
- Love, Friendship, Passion
- January Birthstone
Round
Pear
Oval
Round
Pear
OvalOverview
The name of this radiant gemstone is believed to have originated from two different words – ‘gernet’, which means ‘dark red’ in Middle English and the Latin term ‘garanatus’ that stands for ‘seed-like’. These references aptly describe the appearance of this gem as small garnets do resemble the bright red seeds of a pomegranate.
While red is the most common color that is associated with a garnet, it is certainly not the only one this gem is available in. Garnets are also found in an assortment of other stunning hues, such as yellow, orange, peach, green, purple, blue (extremely rare), brown and pink.
1. Key Origin
- Garnet mines are commonly found in Tanzania, China, Russia, Canada and the United States.
- It’s important to note that the price of a garnet is influenced by its type, rather than its source of origin.
2. Associations
- Pink and red colored gemstones, including garnet, are typically associated with three main elements – the heart, blood and passion.
- Garnet is also the birthstone for those born in the month of January and the gem for the second wedding anniversary.
Properties
Rated 6.5 to 7.5 on the Mohs scale of mineral hardness
01Hardness & Strength
Garnets are relatively tough gemstones, which makes them durable enough for almost all types of jewelry. The hardness of a garnet depends on its type/variety and can therefore range from 6.5 to 7.5 on the Mohs scale. While demantoid is a bit softer, other varieties such as almandine, pyrope, spessartine, and tsavorite are on the harder side.
02Treatment
A crucial factor that adds to the appeal of garnets is that they are rarely subjected to synthetic processes. While the color and clarity of most gemstones are enhanced by various treatments, such as irradiation, heat and diffusion, a garnet remains unaffected by the same. Most of the garnets available in the market today are most likely to be 100% natural. Their ready availability further reduces the need for creation through artificial means.
Know About Other Gems
Garnet
“Don't garnets remind you of pomegranate seeds? Well, turns out their name actually comes from a Latin word that means pomegranate!”
- Silicate
- Primarily red
- 6.5 to 7.5 Mohs
- Capricorn Aquarius
- Love, Friendship, Passion
- January
- Round
Pear
Oval
Know About Other Gems
Amethyst
Amethyst is love in a gem! St. Valentine too is believed to have worn an amethyst ring with Cupid’s image.
- Quartz
- Purple, Pale lilac, Deep reddish purple
- 7 Mohs
-
Aquarius Pisces
- Wisdom, Peace, Good fortune
- February
Aquamarine
From its hue to its name, everything about aquamarine swirls around water. No wonder the mermaids called it their own!
- Beryl
- Pale blue, Greenish blue, Pastel blue
- 7.5 to 8 Mohs
-
Aries Pisces
- Serenity, Clarity, Harmony
- March
Citrine
In the middle ages, citrine was also called the ‘merchant's stone’ as it was believed to bring success and prosperity.
- Quartz
- Yellow-orange, Pale yellow
- 7 Mohs
-
Scorpio Sagittarius
- Positivity, Optimism
- November
Emerald
Cleopatra was crazy about emeralds! She even took over a few Greek mines, hoping to keep all the jewels for herself.
- Beryl
- Green, Bluish green, Deep green
- 7.5 to 8 Mohs
-
Taurus Gemini
- Good fortune, Balance, Growth
- May
Ruby
Did you know ruby and sapphire are cousins? They come from the same mineral family, which is corundum!
- Corundum
- Red
- 9 Mohs
-
Cancer Leo
- Love, Power, Passion
- July
Moonstone
Moonstone was declared the state gem of Florida in 1970 to honor NASA’s lunar landing and the Kennedy Space Center.
- Feldspar
- Colorless, White
- 6 to 6.5 Mohs
-
Gemini Cancer
- Good fortune, Luck
- June
Morganite
Morganites were named after J.P. Morgan, who wasn't just a genius in all things finance, but a gem enthusiast too.
- Beryl
- Pale pink, Peach
- 7.5 to 8 Mohs
- Romance, Love, Harmony
Onyx
Many cultures believed onyx could absorb negativity. In fact, the more negativity it absorbed, the darker it became!
- Silicate
- Primarily black
- 6.5 to 7 Mohs
- Courage, Power, Good fortune
Opal
Ancient legends suggest opals fell from the heavens in flashes of lightning. That probably explains why this gem is so magical!
- Hydrated Silica
- All colors
- 5 to 6.5 Mohs
-
Libra Scorpio
- Hope, Purity, Truth
- October
Peridot
Unlike most gemstones that come in different colors, peridot is found only in olive green. It's a special gem, for sure!
- Olivine
- Yellowish green, Deep dark olive, Yellow-green
- 6.5 to 7 Mohs
-
Leo Virgo
- Prosperity, Good fortune
- August
Rhodolite
Rhodolite gets its name from the Greek word ‘rhodon’ which means ‘rose.’ Such an apt name for this pretty stone!
- Garnet group of minerals
- Rose pink - deep purple
- 7 to 7.5 Mohs
- Positivity
Rose Quartz
Rose quartz isn't just a pretty gem. It's believed to attract love and bring in peace and tenderness to your life.
- Quartz
- Shades of pink
- 7 Mohs
- Love, Harmony
Sapphire
The most obsessed-over sapphire in the world is the 12-carat stunner on Princess Diana’s legendary engagement ring.
- Corundum
- Every color but red
- 9 Mohs
-
Libra Virgo
- Truth, Sincerity, Loyalty
- September
Swiss Blue Topaz
Wear a topaz and it could make you invisible in times of emergency. Farfetched? Well, that's what the Ancient Greeks believed!
- Silicate
- Yellow, Orange, Brown
- 8 Mohs
-
Scorpio Sagittarius
- Love, Loyalty
- November
Tanzanite
Though a new discovery, tanzanites could quickly become extinct! It's because they're mined in only one place on Earth.
- Zoisite
- Violet purple, Bluish violet
- 6 to 7 Mohs
-
Sagittarius Capricorn
- Abundance, New beginnings
- December
Tourmaline
Self-love is the best kind of love and tourmaline is considered to be the best gem to help you in this journey.
- Silicate
- All colors
- 7 to 7.5 Mohs
-
Libra Scorpio
- Friendship, Compassion
- October
Tsavorite
Tsavorites may look like emeralds, but in reality, they are roughly 200 times rarer than emeralds.
- Garnet group of minerals
- Green
- 6.5 to 7.5 Mohs
- Strength, Vitality, Positivity
Turquoise
Would you believe us if we told you that the gorgeous turquoise is one of the oldest gemstones in the world?
- Turquoise
- Blue, Greenish blue
- 5 to 6 Mohs
-
Sagittarius Capricorn
- Positivity, Happiness
- December
The 4C’s
Garnets are alluring gemstones coveted for their color and luster. The below-mentioned factors help determine the value of this gem:
- Color
- Carat
- Clarity
- Cuts
01Color
- Garnet occurs in a wide array of species and colors, yet most of them are red and display fragments of a deeper red on the inside.
02Carat
- Garnets are found in various dimensions and shapes. However, it is rare to find a tsavorite and demantoid in large sizes; this results in a significant peak in their value.
- Other varieties of garnets, like almandine, are not relatively expensive as they are commonly available in larger sizes.
03Clarity
- The red variety of garnets is typically eye-clean; they do not have visible inclusions.
- However, an almandine garnet (part of the red category) sometimes has asbestos fiber inclusions, which give it a star-like effect and is therefore treasured for its rarity.
- Furthermore, some of the orange varieties like a spessartite, for instance, often have eye-visible inclusions.
04Cuts
- Garnets are relatively tough and can be cut into almost any shape.
- A well-cut garnet will display dozens of symmetrical facets, and will also minimize inclusions.
- The more common red garnets tend to be carved into standard shapes with ovals, cushions, trillions and emerald cuts being the most common.
Quality & Grading
Even though there is no standard quality grading parameter for garnets, the intense red variety of this gemstone can be further classified into the following categories based on the above mentioned properties.
| Gem Quality | Color | Clarity | Brilliance | Rareness | Shop Products |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Heirloom (AAAA) |  Rich Red | Eye Clean | Very High | Top 1% |
V-Bale Pear-Shaped Garnet Solitaire Pendant$599 |
| Best (AAA) |  Medium Red | Clean | High | Top 10% |
Prong-Set Garnet Teardrop V-Bale Pendant with Diamond$819 |
| Better (AA) |  Dark to Medium Red | Slightly Included | Medium | Top 33% |
Classic Cushion Garnet Solitaire Ring$779 |
| Good (A) |  Dark Red | Slightly Included | Low | Top 75% |
Classic Prong-Set Round Garnet Solitaire Pendant$489 |
Latest Pick from Garnet Jewelry
Rings
Earrings
Bracelets
Necklaces
Classic Cushion Garnet Solitaire Ring
$1569
Solitaire Round Garnet Celtic Knot Ring
$1029
Solitaire Garnet Infinity Knot Ring
$1289
Half Eternity Seven Stone Garnet and Diamond Wedding Ring
$1169
Solitaire Oval Garnet Criss Cross Ring with Diamonds
$2009
Care Instructions
A garnet's toughness ranges between fair to good, making it a durable option for all jewelry styles as long as it is treated with proper care. To ensure the long life of your garnet, here are some tips that you can follow:
FAQs
1. How are garnets formed?
Garnets are formed when a sedimentary rock with aluminum content is exposed to extreme heat and pressure. This breaks the chemical bonds in the rock, causing it to recrystallize, forming garnets. The conditions under which garnets are formed can affect their color and composition. Red garnets get their hue due to the presence of iron in their crystal structure.
2. What does garnet symbolize?
Thanks to their red hue, garnets symbolize love, friendship and passion. Some believe that this January birthstone also protects wearers from negativity and harm.
3. Is garnet a durable gemstone?
Garnet is a reasonably durable gemstone. It has a rating of 6.5 to 7.5 on the Mohs scale. However, the gemstone is prone to scratches and abrasions if exposed to harsh chemicals or bumped against hard surfaces.
4. How to tell if a garnet is real or fake?
Fake garnets have a uniform color that looks extremely perfect, whereas genuine garnets have some flaws and inclusions. Another way to tell a fake garnet from a real one is by examining its weight. Most fake or synthetic garnets are lighter than the real ones.
5. Are garnets expensive?
Common garnets are usually affordable compared to other gemstones such as rubies and diamonds. However, rare garnets such as tsavorite garnets and demantoid garnets are relatively expensive due to their rarity and hue.
6. Can garnets change color?
Typically, garnets don't change color. But some varieties, such as the color-change garnet, can appear to be different under different lighting. For instance, it appears greenish in broad daylight, but may appear reddish under incandescent light.
