Garnets, are not just red.
Garnets: Fiery Gems with a Rich Past
Garnets are among the oldest and most captivating gemstones in human history, prized not only for their deep, glowing hues but also for their symbolic power and global origins. The name “garnet” comes from the Latin granatum, meaning pomegranate—thanks to their resemblance to the fruit’s vibrant red seeds. These gemstones have been used since the Bronze Age in jewellery, amulets, and even weapon decoration, prized by ancient Egyptians, Greeks, and Romans for their protective and energising qualities.
While many associate garnets with deep red tones, the garnet family is surprisingly diverse. Here are four of the most notable and collectable types:
1. Almandine Garnet
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Colour: Deep reddish-brown to violet-red
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Rarity: Common
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Main Sources: India, Sri Lanka, Brazil, USA
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Notes: The most commonly found garnet, often used in antique Victorian jewellery. It has a high iron content and excellent hardness, making it durable and ideal for rings.
2. Pyrope Garnet
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Colour: Blood red to pinkish-red
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Rarity: Moderately rare
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Main Sources: Czech Republic (Bohemia), South Africa, USA
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Notes: Pyrope was the jewel of choice in 18th- and 19th-century Bohemian jewellery, particularly with the famed rose-cut style. Its pure, intense red tone made it extremely desirable in Georgian and early Victorian pieces.
3. Spessartite Garnet or Hessonite
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Colour: Vivid orange to orange-red
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Rarity: Quite rare
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Main Sources: Namibia, Nigeria, Mozambique, USA
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Notes: Also called “Mandarin garnet” for its fiery citrus colour, spessartite is sought after in modern jewellery and is rarer than its red cousins.
4. Demantoid Garnet
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Colour: Vivid green (sometimes with golden 'horsetail' inclusions)
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Rarity: Very rare
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Main Sources: Russia (Ural Mountains), Namibia, Madagascar
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Notes: The rarest and most valuable garnet type, discovered in the 19th century and embraced by Fabergé and Art Nouveau jewellers. Its diamond-like brilliance and unique internal patterns make it a collector’s dream.
- These are like some king of childs sweet in colour and are rare to find big stones say 2 carrats plus and are extremly sort after much loved by the Russian Royal family and elite.
Antique Allure and Legacy
Garnets have been unearthed in ancient Egyptian tombs, used in Roman signet rings, and traded along the Silk Road. In the 1800s, Bohemia (now the Czech Republic) became a powerhouse of garnet jewellery production, exporting rose-cut Pyrope pieces across Europe. Their deep symbolism—associated with protection, loyalty, and passion—keeps garnets forever in demand, especially in antique circles.
Today, garnets continue to enchant collectors, from the fiery spessartites of Africa to the velvety almandines of India, each stone telling a story of ancient lava, geological pressure, and timeless human fascination.
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