Garnet

Garnet is an ancient form of semi-precious gemstone. The exact origin of the name is uncertain however one theory is that it comes from the Latin word for pomegranate; garnet crystals are often found having similar shape and colour to pomegranate seeds.

Today you can buy garnet gems in a wide variety of colours and styles with popular uses of the stone for jewelry including rings, earrings and bracelets.

What Is Garnet?

The name garnet refers not to a single mineral but to a variety of stones with similar physical and chemical properties. Although the most well known appearance of garnet is a brownish red, it's found in all colours. For a long while the one exception to the spectrum was blue, however a blue-green form of the stone was discovered in the 1990s.

Varieties

The six main forms of garnet and their most common hues are:

Almandine ("carbuncle") - Various shades of red through to black Andradite - Red, yellow, brown, green or black Grossular - Various including red, pink, yellow and green Pyrope - Red to deep red Spessartite - Brownish yellow through orange to red Uvarovite - Bright green

Of these varieties the most sought after is probably demantoid, a green form of andranite. Popular buying choices include rhodolite, a mixture of almandine and pyrope that usually has a rose red colour, and Tsavorite, a green form of grossular garnet.