Garnet Facts
Matched bee brooches set with a cluster of pyrope garnets
Garnets occur in various colors including red, orange and green.
A garnet bead necklace, that was found in an Egyptian grave, is dated to 3800 B.C.
Most red garnets, while beautiful, are not terribly valuable due to their relative abundance. Green tsavorite garnets, however, can be much more expensive, especially in larger sizes.
Garnet is a January birthstone and is the 2nd wedding anniversary gemstone.
Photo courtesy of Sotheby's
Garnet Varieties
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ALMANDINE
Almandine garnet three stone ring
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Color Generally dark toned brownish orange to brownish red to purplish red, with low saturation. Magnification Needle-like inclusions that intersect at 70° and 110° in the same plane. High- and low-relief crystals. Zircon crystals with strain halos. Spectrum 3 strong bands in the green and yellow at 505, 527 & 575nm Fluorescence Inert |
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DEMANTOID
Photo courtesy of Gems by Nomads
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Color Green through yellow green, with strong fire Magnification Yellowish brown, curving, radiating "horse tail" inclusions Spectrum Yellowish Green Stones: Dark band at 443nm. Rich Green Stones: Cutoff below 443nm and fine lines at 620, 632, 693 & 700nm. Fluorescence Inert |
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HESSONITE
Photo courtesy of Watchlink
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Color Medium to dark orange, to brownish orange Magnification Hessonite is known for its "heat wave" or "scotch in water" effect Spectrum Not diagnostic Fluorescence Yellow stones are inert to weak orange under LW and SW |
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HYDROGROSSULAR
Hydrogrossular garnet is often mistaken for jade
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Color Pink or green, often brownish pink. Magnification Might have black, peppery looking inclusions Spectrum Usually shows a cutoff at 460nm Fluorescence Inert |
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PYROPE
Matched bee brooches set with a cluster of pyrope garnets
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Color Medium to dark reddish orange, red through slightly purplish red to pale pink Magnification Needle-like inclusions and irregular rounded crystals. Spectrum Chrome Pyrope: Band at 505nm plus broad absorption at 520 through 620nm. Possibly fine lines in the red at 685 & 687nm. Cutoff around 490nm. None Chrome Pyrope: Only the 505nm band and a cutoff at 490nm. Fluorescence Inert |
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RHODOLITE
Rhodolite garnet twin stone bypass ring
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Color Must have a purplish component Magnification Needle-like inclusions that intersect at 70° and 110° in the same plane. High- and low-relief crystals. Zircon crystals with strain halos. Spectrum 3 strong bands in the green and yellow at 505, 527 & 575nm Fluorescence Inert |
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SPESSARTINE
Spessartine garnet and diamond ring
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Color Orange, brownish orange, yellowish orange or red orange. Always has an orange component and never shows any purple. Magnification 2-phase inclusions, feather-like liquid inclusions, needle-like inclusions Spectrum Bands at 412, 424 & 432nm, which sometimes merge to form a cutoff. Bands at 505, 527 & 575nm. Fluorescence Inert |
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TSAVORITE
Photo courtesy of King Stone Gems
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Color Medium to dark green, to yellowish green Magnification Partially healed fractures, fingerprints or small graphite platelets Spectrum Not diagnostic Fluorescence Near colorless to light green stones are inert to weak orange under LW, weak yellow-orange under SW. |
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UVAROVITE
Photo courtesy of Gemstone Buzz
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Color Light to dark green through yellow-green to brownish green Magnification Not diagnostic. Crystals are usually too small to facet. Spectrum Not diagnostic Fluorescence Not diagnostic |
All photos courtesy of Scott Papper, GG, ASA, CMA, RGA, AJP, CMSP, CSSP except where noted.