
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
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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
|
The most common and popular garnet. Beautiful dark red color and very
affordable. |