Classy and eye-catching, a brilliant red gemstone is a wardrobe must-have! That said, if you’re a newbie to fine jewelry, you might get confused about the different options available.
So today, we’re going to put the spotlight on garnet and rhodolite and find out if at all there’s any difference between the two.
What is Garnet?
Known as the January birthstone, the garnet derives its name from the 14th‑century Middle English word ‘gernet’ meaning ‘dark red’ and the Latin word ‘garanatus’, which translates to ‘seed-like’.
While red is its most common color, this gem can also be found in shades of orange, green, peach, yellow, blue, purple, brown and pink. Unlike other minerals, garnets are created from a variety of species and blends.
Common Varieties
Each variant of garnet is categorized based on the color and trace elements present in its composition.
- Almandite Garnet/Almandine: It has a deep red hue with a violet tint, which is caused due to the presence of aluminum silicate.
- Pyrope: Found very frequently in nature, this particular variant contains magnesium or calcium aluminum silicate. Depending on the blend, the color of these garnets can range from purplish-red to dark, blood-red.
- Spessartite: Colored by manganese, one can find spessartites in varying hues of orange. The most valuable stones are sourced from Namibia. They are called ‘Mandarin Spessartines’ and showcase a vibrant red-orange color.
- Demantoid: It is one of the most valuable varieties of garnet available today and showcases a light green hue.
- Grossularite: This variety is a blend of aluminum and calcium and has three subcategories…
- Tsavorite: A valuable garnet with a green or emerald-green hue.
- Hydrogrossular: This too has a greenish color and is opaque in appearance.
- Leuco: A colorless grossularite garnet.
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What is Rhodolite?
Rhodolite is a hybrid of almandine and pyrope garnets. This jewel is valued for its sensuous appeal thanks to its color, which can range from a deep purple-red to a lighter rose-red. Not surprisingly, the gem derives its name from the Greek term ‘rhodon’, which translates to ‘rose’.
Unlike most colored gemstones, natural rhodolites are typically eye-clean, which means they’re free from inclusions or flaws that can be seen with the naked eye. The stone’s clarity and natural color (devoid of any artificial enhancements) are what makes this gem one of the most valuable varieties of garnet.
Bottom-line
Rhodolite is a part of the garnet family. Besides the color and composition, this category differs from other varieties in the following ways…
1. Price
Rhodolite is a valuable type of garnet and the starting price for an heirloom quality 1 carat stone can be approximately $1,000. A high-quality 1 carat pyrope-almandine garnet can cost around $300. That said, average and lower grade gems of both varieties will cost relatively less.
2. Demand
Most people associate garnet with the color red, so many are still not aware of the existence of rhodolites. The demand for the latter, therefore, is expectedly less in comparison to the popular intense-red garnets. Rhodolites, however, are more valuable and rare; therefore they’re also more expensive.
Final Note
Rich and vibrant, the rhodolite is anything but ordinary! So if you’re looking for something that’s different and promises immense beauty, then this variety of garnet definitely deserves a try.
