Garnet

Color: Garnet can be found in many colors: red, orange, yellow, green, brown, and sometimes purple. The classic and most well known color is deep dark red.

Hardness: Between 6.5 and 7.5 on the scale of Mohs, making garnet suitable for jewelry that can be worn daily.

Locations: Important locations include Africa (Madagascar, Tanzania), India, Russia, Sri Lanka, Brazil, and the United States.

Types and Characteristics:

• Almandine: Deep red to purplish red; common and popular in jewelry.

• Pyrope: Bright red; often clean and transparent, historically well known.

• Spessartine: Orange color; vibrant and eye catching.

• Grossular: Yellow, green, or brown; the green variety is called Tsavorite, rare and valuable.

• Andradite: Green or yellowish; includes Demantoid, very clear and shiny.

• Uvarovite: Bright green; usually granular, less suitable for faceted jewelry.

Cut: Garnet is often cut in brilliant, cabochon, or rose cuts. The brilliant cut maximizes brilliance, the cabochon cut emphasizes color and smooth surface, and the rose cut is a traditional antique style with a faceted top and a flat base.

Value: Depends on color, clarity, size, and rarity. Rare and vibrant stones such as Demantoid and Tsavorite are the most valuable.