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Garnet has been one of the world's favorite gems for centuries.  Although gem quality garnets can be among the most beautiful of gemstones, they are relatively affordable. There are some varieties, like tsavorite and spessartite that can be very expensive, but most are modestly priced. They are mined in almost every county.  Though most of us think of garnets as a red gemstone they come in many colors, including orange, green, and pink. Some even appear to change color, depending on the lighting!  Garnets are not actually a single species of gemstone but are a family of gems that share certain physical properties including crystal shape and chemical composition.  They are generally grouped into six garnet species, almandine, pyrope, spessartine, grossular, andradite and uvarovite.  To complicate matters more, garnets are never just one species, but are a blend of two or more of these.

They are usually named for the species that is most prevalent. A garnet that is described as "pyrope" may actually be 80% pyrope, 15% almandine and 5% spessartine.  Some specific blends have also been given names of their own. For example, a garnet that is about 2/3 pyrope and 1/3 almandine is called a Rhodolite.  Other names you may encounter for varieties of garnets include demantoid (usually green), malaya ( may be pink or reddish orange) , mandarin (yellow-orange spessartine),  hessonite (usually cinnamon brown or yellowish) or tsavorite(green).

Learning, identifying and describing the seemingly endless varieties of garnets is challenging, but they also provide a wide range of prices and colors for every taste.  Garnets also provide  a source of great beauty and endless fascination for gem lovers and mineral collectors alike.

 

To see our available inventory of  Garnet Gemstones Click Here

Here are some of the types of gem garnets available:

Spessartine Garnets

The best known, most sought after Spessartites are bright Orange!  These are sometimes called "Mandarin" spessartite for their tangerine-like color.

 

Color-Change Garnets

These rare garnets appear different colors depending on the type of light.  In incandescent light they look one color, in sunlight they look a different color. 

Merelani Mint Garnets

 These beautiful light green garnets are grossular garnets from East Africa.  Dark green grossular are called Tsavorites.  Less saturated, medium green specimens are called Mint Garnets. 

  Tsavorites

Tsavorites are dark green grossular garnets names for the Tsavo region of Kenya where they are found.

Clear Grossular Garnets

These are very pale green to colorless garnets.  Very unusual.  Must have for garnet collector's

Hessonite Garnets 

Hessonite Garnets are grossular garnets that are in the yellowish-brown to orange color range.  They have good luster and brilliance. 

Rhodolite Garnets 

Rhodolite Garnets are famous for their purplish-red color and exceptional brilliance.  First found in the mountains of North Carolina, they are named for the wild Rhododendron in that area that are a similar color.  They are a pyrope/almandine garnet.

Pyrope/Almandine Garnets 
pyrope garnet  The most common and popular garnet.  Beautiful dark red color and very affordable.


To see our available inventory of  Garnet Gemstones Click Here

                                                                   

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Last modified: 8/20/09