What is a garnet?
What makes garnets so wonderfully distinctive is that they’re actually a family of several closely related gemstones, each one called a species. Garnet varieties are found all over the world, most notably in India, China, Australia and the United States. The six garnet species specifically used in jewelry include almandine, spessartine, grossular, pyrope, andradite and uvarovite, the rarest garnet type — this variation is emerald green in color and is often too small to cut. Garnet in any form is the birthstone for January.
Jarno from Rotterdam, Netherlands, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons / Cropped from original
Mineral: Garnet Group
Origins: India, China, Australia, United States
Symbols: Love, Compassion, Loyalty
Properties: Empathy
Durability: 6.5 to 7.5
ENHANCEMENTS
None
CARE
Special Gemstone Care: Avoid sudden temperature changes
SIMILAR GEMSTONES
What to Look for in Garnet Gemstones
Color and clarity are two very important characteristics of garnets, which are available in all shapes and sizes. They’re affordable and look gorgeous with any metal or jewelry setting. Here’s what to keep an eye out for when you’re choosing a garnet.
COLOR
In most cases, the color of a gemstone is its most important feature. Garnets come in a wide range of colors, from orangey-red to reddish-purple, with a deep, true red being the most popular. Some garnets come in color-changing varieties, which look different under various light sources. The most desirable garnet gemstones have a pure, consistent color throughout. Garnets with slight traces of other colors are usually more affordable but are still just as coveted and dazzling to look at.