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Garnet is the January birthstone, with the name originating from the medieval Latin ‘granatus’, referring to the traditional red colour being pomegranate-like. Garnets have been used since the Bronze age to adorn jewellery and ornaments. Famous pieces have been recovered from ancient Egyptian, Greek and Roman ruins. More recently Mary Queen of Scots, Queen Victoria and Russian Czarinas were known for championing garnets.
Garnet is also the traditional gift for the 2nd wedding anniversary.
Garnet is not one type of stone – it is a whole family of minerals with similar chemical compositions and is found worldwide.
Sometimes a garnet will consist of more than one type, leading to mixed colours and properties.
The below table helps to decipher the types, colours, localities and prices for January’s birthstone.
Garnet Type | Colour | Main Localities | Price/ct |
Pyrope | Red to purplish red | Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, Europe | $$-$$$ |
Rhodolite | Light purplish red | Tanzania, Madagascar, India, Brazil, Canada, US | $$$ |
Almandine | Brownish red to purplish red and pale to deep mauve | Australia, India, Brazil, Sri Lanka, US | $$-$$$ |
Spessartine | Yellowish orange, colour change, sometimes red | Tanzania, Madagascar, Brazil, Sri Lanka | $$$ |
Hessonite | Brownish yellow to brownish red, orange | Sri Lanka, India, Canada, Tanzania | $$-$$$ |
Tsavorite | Bright bluish green to yellowish green | Kenya, Tanzania | $$$-$$$$ |
Hydrogrossular | Translucent to opaque green, pink, whitish grey, brown | Australia, China, New Zealand, South Africa | $$$-$$$$ |
Demantoid | Green, yellow green | Russia, Namibia, Iran, Italy | $$$$-$$$$$ |
Melanite | Dark red to black | Mali, Mexico, US | $$ |
Topazolite | Pale to dark yellow | Italy, US, Mexico | $$-$$$$ |
Uvarovite | Emerald green | Russia, Finland | $$$ |
Colour-Change | Bluish green to purple or red to green | Madagascar, Tanzania, Kenya | $$$$ |
No, not all garnets are red- they come in nearly every colour of the rainbow. Red is one of the most common colours and is traditionally used as the January birthstone.
A colour-change garnet is a true rarity and was only properly described in the 1970s and will shift in colour depending on the type of lighting. They are greenish blue in daylight, and in incandescent lighting they are a purple. Other colour change garnets may shift from red to green.
The reason for the colour change? Trace elements such as chromium and vanadium interact with the crystal structure causing different wavelengths of light to be absorbed or reflected resulting in a different colour in different lights.
Most of these garnets come from Tanzania or Madagascar, but have also been found in America and Norway.
Garnets vary in price from less than fifty dollars, all the way up to tens of thousands of dollars. This makes it a great stone to use for all budgets.
Colour, followed by clarity, and size are the most important factors when it comes to determining the value of garnet. Large, clean stones will bring a higher price tag than smaller or included gems.
One of the most prized garnets in the world today is the Demantoid garnet. It was originally discovered in Russia’s Ural mountains in the 1850s. It quickly became popular with famous jewellery houses such as Tiffany & Co and Faberge as well as with Tsars as it had fire like a diamond.
Unfortunately the source in Russia quickly started to run dry, making the gems hard to come by, pushing the value up and creating an air of mystery.
Today demantoid garnets are mined in Namibia and Madagascar, but Russian demantoid garnets are considered the gold standard.
Demantoid garnets are often small, with stones over a few carats extremely rare. They are easily identifiable by their characteristic ‘horsetail’ inclusions, which look as the name implies.
Garnet is found worldwide, with major deposits occurring on the African continent, Australia, America and Europe. Other notable countries where garnet is found include Sri Lanka, Brazil, and India.
Unlike many other gemstones, the Gemological Association of America (GIA) estimates that small scale artisanal miners produce 80% of the world’s garnets.
Garnet is generally an untreated stone – it is often of gem quality straight from the ground and just needs to be fashioned into a cut gemstone to enhance the brightness and colour.
Standardised treatments such as heat and radiation that will enhance other gemstones don’t generally work on garnets.
Sometimes if they are heavily fractured they may be fracture filled with a resin or glass, but this is very rare and not worth the undertaking as low quality garnet still has use in industrial applications such as sandpaper or in skid resistant paints.
The garnet birthstone is steeped in symbolism, with its red colour representing the heart and blood. In medieval times it was believed to help reduce inflammation and sooth an angry heart. In Indian astrology garnet was said to help with negative feelings and boost self confidence and mental clarity. Royalty often wore garnet jewellery as it was thought it offered protection from harm.
One of the most famous garnets in the world is the impressive Lion of Merelani. This tsavorite weighs as whopping 116.76 carats and was only cut by the world renowned lapidarist Victor Tuzlukov in 2018. The size, colour and clarity of this gem makes it incredibly rare. Today it resides in the National Gem Collection of the Smithsonian for all to enjoy.
Garnet is a 6.5 – 7.5 on the Mohs scale, meaning it is relatively hard for jewellery such as pendants and earrings, but isn’t recommended for engagement rings. Diamond, moissanite and sapphire are the best stones to choose for your engagement ring.
You might wish to set a small garnet inside the band where it is protected from knocks and wear and tear if having a garnet in your engagement ring is sentimental to you.
To properly care for your garnet jewellery ensure that you store it carefully – it will be scratched by harder gemstones such as diamond or sapphire rubbing against it.
To keep it clean use a soft toothbrush with a natural dishwashing liquid in warm water. Pat dry on a clean tissue.
If you notice anything awry, or are not confident cleaning your piece we are always happy to service it for you in our Brisbane workshop.
Garnet is a versatile gemstone in that is suits many jewellery styles. Deep red almandine garnet and bright green tsavorite or demantoid garnet tends to lend themselves to vintage pieces as they are reminiscent of the jewellery prized by the elite in the Victorian and Edwardian eras where coloured stones we used to recrate small creatures in brooches.
Today pinks, oranges, purples all feature heavily in more modern pieces. Their affordability and range of sizes allows them to be used in silver, gold and platinum pieces alike to suit all tastes and budgets.
Garnet suits all metals types as they come in a range of colours. Green tsavorite garnets complement yellow gold as it makes the green appear more vibrant and contrasts nicely, whereas you might wish to set a pink or purple rhodolite garnet in a white or rosey metal to enhance the colour. Ultimately the colour and type of metal you set a garnet in is up to your personal preferences.
Yes! Garnet is suitable for custom jewellery. We recently had the pleasure of making this stunning dress ring for a client with an elongated hexagonal umbalite garnet in the centre.
In conclusion, garnet is a gemstone that offers something for everyone. Its rich colors and wide range of price points make it a versatile choice, whether you’re seeking a meaningful birthstone gift or a stunning statement piece of jewellery. Beyond its beauty, garnet carries a timeless appeal, making it a treasure that can be cherished for years to come.
Book your private consultation today, and let our skilled jewellers create a piece of jewellery as unique as you.
