Grossular may have the widest range, from colourless through to yellow, reddish orange and orangey red, as well as a strong vibrant green called tsavorite. Pyrope and almandine range from purple to red, spessartine is found in oranges and yellows and andradite is mostly yellow to green (demantoid is the green gemstone variety of andradite and is one of the most expensive of all garnets). Five of these varieties – pyrope (from the Greek pyrōpos, which means ‘fiery-eyed’), almandine, spessartine, grossular and andradite – are used as gems. All varieties of garnet possess similar physical properties and crystal forms but differ in chemical composition. Garnet is actually a group of several minerals. In ancient and medieval times, gems like garnet were also thought to be remedies for inflammatory diseases and to soothe an angry heart. A large rose-cut garnet sits at the crest and the garnets that decorate this tiara-like jewel came from the historic mines in Bohemia (now part of the Czech Republic).Īccording to Indian astrology, garnet helps eliminate the negative feelings of depression and guilt and instil greater self-confidence and mental clarity to promote creative thinking and peace of mind. The clergy and nobility of the Middle Ages had a preference for red garnets and in ancient Persia, only the royal family was allowed to own and wear this highly revered gemstone.Īn antique pyrope hair comb (housed at the Smithsonian) is one of the most famous pieces of garnet jewellery and was created in the Victorian era. Necklaces studded with red garnets adorned the pharaohs of ancient Egypt and signet rings in ancient Rome featured garnet intaglios that were used to stamp the wax that sealed important documents. Garnets have been used as gemstones since the Bronze Age. In turn, this may have come from the medieval Latin word ‘garanatus’ meaning ‘seedlike’, possibly in reference to a pomegranate, because of the similarity of the red colour of the Pyrope and Almandine varieties. The name “garnet” originates from the Middle English word ‘gernet’ meaning dark red. Red garnets are also connected to vitality, love and light.īefore she got engaged to Prince William, Catherine Middleton often wore a pearl and garnet gold ring, representing both her birthstone (garnet) and his (pearl).Īs well as the January birthstone, garnets are traditionally given as a second wedding anniversary present. This made the stones particularly popular amongst warriors and royalty. Some believe that garnets are a protective stone and that a piece of garnet jewellery will protect the wearer from injury. A soft cloth or brush and mild soapy water is the safest way to clean your garnet jewellery. In turn, garnets can scratch softer gems such as pearls. Be careful how you store your garnet jewellery and keep pieces away from harder gems so they don’t get scratched. Garnets range from 6.5 to 7.5 on the Mohs hardness scale so they can be a little softer than other gems. Its sparkle can be so intense that gemologists sometimes refer to it as ‘fire’. However, because the red variety is so striking, it’s still the one most often used in jewellery. In the jewellery world, garnets are fascinating to work with not least because the huge colour spectrum enables them to keep up with changing style and colour trends. The garnet family is one of the most complex in the gem world as it’s not a single stone but made up of several stones. Although garnet is usually associated with the colour red, garnets may be found naturally in most other colours.
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