Introduction of Garnet Gemstone: History, Meanings, and Uses
Garnet Gemstones are a red gemstone, but not quite like the ruby. The red of a garnet is much more like the red of a flame. It forms in the eastern part of the world, and if cut and polished correctly, it will show all of its beauty and perfection.
This is what Aristotle wrote about garnets over 2,000 years ago, but our love and appreciation for this gem continues to this day, and we have discovered that garnets are more than just a bright red. Garnets are the ‘modern family’ of gemstones.
They are not a simple chemical formation, with just a few impurities to give them color, but rather a family of gemstones with many chemical half-sisters, mineral half-sisters and long lost crystal cousins, and even some geologic uncles!
This family of closely related minerals gives rise to gemstones of almost every color, with the most common being red, but also some beautiful greens, oranges, pinks, purples and, contrary to popular belief, blues.
Garnets, on the other hand, are essentially the same crystalline structure, composed of silica, oxygen, and various elements and minerals, added together to form variations. This variation makes up dozens of different types of garnets, but only a handful of these types are important to us on the family side of things.
Health benefits of Garnet Gemstone
People often ask us how gemstones can be used for spiritual or health purposes, and while we are by no means experts, we have learned a few things along the way. Of course, wearing a gemstone as jewelry is the simplest way for a crystal to affect your body. Some stones and colors have chakra connections to different areas of your body. For example, garnets are chakra connected to your base chakra and your heart chakra, so a garnet pendant could be perfect.
Garnet Species / Varieties
Garnet can be divided into many different types or species, but we’ll stick to the types that can turn into the variety of precious gemstones that we’ve come to know and love. There are other types that aren’t used for gemstones that can be used for sandpaper, filters, waterjet cutting, blasting, and many other industrial applications.
Types of Garnet Gemstones
Garnets are divided into the following groups or types:
- Almandine
The most common type of garnet, it is usually dark red or reddish brown and is the hardest type. - Pyrope
The most well known type of garnet. It is a deep red variety that can rival rubies and is cut for many styles of jewelry when it is clear enough. - Spessartit
At its best, spessartite is a bright orange gemstone with a special brilliance that makes it one of the most sought after gemstones. - Grossular
In its purest form, grossular garnets are colorless. However, impurities can turn them into a variety of beautiful colors. - Tsavorite
One of the rarest garnets available is the green Tsavorite. - Andradite
The most lustrous of all garnets, Andradite comes in many colors, including green and black, but the term ‘Andradite’ is not often used to describe gems. - Demantoid garnets
The highly valuable Demantoid garnet
These are the six primary types of garnets. These are the six formal names for the family of garnets, but they are further subdivided into groups based on things like trade names, color, source, or are a combination of 2 or more of these species. It’s part of the beauty and appeal of garnets to work out where each one fits into this rich family of garnets.
The most common of the garnets are Rhodolites, which are a combination of Pyrope and Almandine and have a lovely purple color.
Malaya is a pyrope-spessartite hybrid that is pinky-orange to reddish-orange in color and is sometimes referred to as an Imperial Garnet.
Color-change Garnets, which are pyrope-almandine hybrids that are found in many places around the world, including Madagascar and Tanzania. Color-change Garnets have the rare property of changing color when exposed to either natural or artificial light.
Properties of Garnet Gemstones:
Garnet is a collection of silicate minerals with varying chemical compositions and colors, but similar crystal shapes. Almandine, pyrope, spessartine, grossular, and andradite are the most prevalent varieties of garnet; each has distinct qualities and traits of its own. Because of its extraordinary brightness, vivid hues, and outstanding clarity, garnet is highly valued and frequently used in jewelry and other decorative applications.
Is Garnet a birthstone?
Gemstones have been associated with the birth month and zodiac sign for hundreds of years, possibly dating back to Aaron’s brother Moses’ breastplate mentioned in the Bible. Over the years, these gemstones have been renamed, confused with other gemstones, and varied culturally.
Red garnet is believed to have been part of the original breastplate, though we can’t be sure because of translation issues and determining what was what at the time.
Regardless, garnet is officially the ‘official birthstone’ for January. Around 100 years ago, the US gem industry decided to list the ‘official’ birthstones each month (much more of a money maker than a cultural phenomenon).
Any one of the vast selection of garnets available today would be the perfect gift for a family member, friend, or co-worker who was born during this month.
Major Sources Garnet Gemstone:
Garnet is a mineral found in many parts of the world. In its basic form, garnet is a common industrial abrasive used as a sandpaper or filter material. However, it is not as widely mined as it is a gemstone.
Garnet is mined in many different places around the world. Some examples of where garnet is mined include Demantoid, Tsavorite, Pinkish Red Rhodolite, Mandarin garnet in Namibia, and many more.
Australia, the United States, India, and China are the major producers of Garnet globally.
Garnets Color:
Color Variations: The various hues that garnet displays are ascribed to distinct chemical compositions and trace elements that are present in the crystal structure. The following are the most typical garnet colors:
Can Garnet change color?
Some gemstones show distinct or dramatic changes in color under various light sources. Take a look at some of the garnets under electrical or artificial light and they might look red. Take one out into the sunlight and they might turn green! This amazing phenomenon only happens in a handful of gemstones, and some of them are color-change garnets!
Most of the garnets have color-changing properties. However, they are usually subtle and hard to see, except for the amazing gemstones from the island of Bekily, Madagascar. These gemstones change color from blue to pink as they move from one light source to another. Some of the other garnets also have color-changing capabilities, but none can compare to the stunning changes of the Bekily gemstones from Madagascar.
Care and Clarity Garnet Gemstone:
If you had two gemstones of equal size and cut of the same vibrantly colored stone, the stone with the least blemishes will be the more expensive. This is also true for garnets. A typical color garnet should be at least eye-clean and since blemishes are quite common, any inclusions or imperfections are unacceptable.
On the other hand, when it comes to rare and high-priced gemstones, the story is slightly different. The rule of thumb is that the higher the clarity, the more valuable the stone will be. Blemishes and imperfections within the stone are acceptable and are part of the nature of high-end gemstones.
Garnets come in a variety of forms, each with a distinct hue and set of properties, such as almandine, pyrope, spessartine, and grossular.
It is said that garnet increases vigor, bravery, and passion. It is well-liked in crystal therapy because of its links to harmonizing emotions and anchoring energy.
Although garnet gemstones are most often recognized for their rich red hue, they may also be found in green, orange, and pink tones. Their longevity and brilliance make them highly valued.
Garnet jewelry should be carefully cleaned with a soft cloth and mild soap to preserve its shine. To prevent scratches, store it separately and keep it away from chemicals.
Around the world, garnets may be found in numerous places, including as Brazil, Africa, India, and the United States. Every location creates garnets with distinct hues and characteristics.
