Garnet Jewelry is Not Just Red Anymore

Garnet comes from the Latin word "granum" which means grain. Garnets are silicate minerals with crystal structures. A hardness of 7 to 7.5 on the Mohs' scale makes the gemstone perfect for everyday wear and uncomplicated for the jeweler to work with. A high refractive index gives the gemstone great brilliance. Garnets come from all over the world, with some locations favored for specific gemstones. Sri Lanka, Brazil, Africa, India, Canada and the US all supply garnets to the world.

Garnets are available in six common species or families, each with a different chemical make-up. Pyrope is the popular and historically common red garnet, often with a dark brown tint. Its name comes from the greek word meaning "fire like". Pyrope is also known as "Bohemian garnet". Historically, the Czech Republic was one of the few places in the world where the Pyrope variety is found.

The Almandine is a red garnet with a purple tint, named for its source, Alabanda in Asia Minor. Spessartines are also named after their locale of Spessart, Bavaria, the colors range from orange to red-brown. Grossularite can be green yellow or brown, their name comes from the botanical name for gooseberry. Andradites come in shades of black, brown and golden-yellow; they are named for a Portuguese mineralogist. Uvarovites are an emerald-green garnet named after Count S.S. Uvarov, a famous Russian mineral collector.

In addition to these six distinct species or families, garnets are also available in several varieties. Rhodolite means rose and comes in shades of purple, pink and red. The Tsavorite is named for the only place on earth that it's found: Tsavo Valley in Kenya. This is a green garnet, highly coveted and just discovered in the 1960s. Color change garnets are a special variety of garnets which appear as two separate and distinct colors depending on the light. In daylight, or white light, the garnet appears blue or green. With incandescent light, or light bulbs, the gem changes to pink or red. In candlelight the stone is a deep blood-red. Although a freak of nature, color change garnets are very popular.

From ancient Egypt to present times, garnets have been valued as a beautiful and long-lasting gem. In biblical times Noah used a garnet lantern to steer his ark through the night. Many explorers and travelers relied on garnets for their journey, they were believed to illuminate the way and guard against evils. Today garnets still carry meaning and are symbolic to many. Garnets are the birthstone for January, and associated with the second wedding anniversary. Garnets are an excellent aid for blood deficiency diseases and general overall health. Garnets symbolizes fire, faith, courage, truth and grace.

The garnet's range of colors, relative hardness and scratch resistance make it a great choice for any type of jewelry. A favorite since the Victorian times is the 'Bohemian garnet" jewelry which is created by arranging several small stones into a display of flowers, dome rings, magnificent brooches and more. For a modern look, a large single golden-yellow Grossularite garnet set in silver makes a stunning pendant. Many people wear a simple garnet bead bracelet to give them strength and courage throughout the day. With all the styles and colors to choose from, garnet jewelry reamins a favorite choice.