The rainbow of color that is the vividly beautiful family
of Garnet gemstones has enchanted and attracted many. Its bright, fiery stones
are engrossed deep in legends and mystery.
Different members of the Garnet family have different
names, characteristics and colors that are described below:
Almandine - found in shades of red, including
deep, dark, rich red, purplish red, orange red and even brownish red.
Malaya - found in a range of color from
orange to gold.
Demantoid - found in shades different shades
of green, ranging from medium green to slightly yellowish.
Hessonite - found in variations of color from
a bright, brilliant yellow, to yellow brown, and also includes shades of,
orange, cinnamon, pink and hues of gold.
Pyrope - found in different shades that
include deep, dark, rich red, purplish red, orangy red and crimson, or blood
red.
Rhodolite - found in various hues including
pink, reddish lavender, purplish red, and many in between.
Spessartite - found in shades that include
medium orange, reddish orange, hues gradating from yellow and orange through
red and from reddish brown to dark brown, almost black, as well as multiple
shades of gold.
Tsavorite - found in many different hues of
green, white include medium, concentrated green, slightly yellowish green, dark
green, bright yellow green and grass green.
Uvarovite - found in nature as a bright
green-colored stone.
Some members of the Garnet family are more common
(almandine, pyrope) than other (tsavorite, demantoid) and therefore vary in
price drastically. The bright colored stones are more valued than the light and
dark colored ones. The large sized Garnets are more readily available in the
more common varieties, and are very infrequently found in the rarer varieties.
Garnet is usually suggested as a gift for the following
holidays and special dates:
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Red Garnet is the modern birthstone of January.
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Stone for the couples celebrating their 2nd and 6th wedding anniversaries.
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Serves as the birthstone for the Zodiac sign of Aquarius.
The name of a Garnet was most probably derived from the
Latin word "granatum malum", which means "pomegranate," the seeds of this fruit
are of deep red-purple color, which resembles the color of some varieties of
Garnet.
The mystery and the beautiful, rich colors of Garnet have
endeared these gorgeous stones to people across the world and time, from
ancient Egyptians to Tsars of Russia. According to the Bible to navigate his
Ark through the 40 days and nights of floods Noah had a lantern made of garnet.
It's been used by people so long ago in history, that now days archeologists
find artifacts of jewelry made out of Garnet in the burial sites from the
Bronze Age, approximately 3000 BC. Not only was Garnet ground up and used for
healing, tribes of Asia carved bullets out of the gemstone and believed that
its fiery color would cause more damage in their enemies.
According to the ancient legends and traditions it was
believed that Garnet should be exchanged between friends as a sign of fondness
and affection and to make sure that they would meet again. In healing Garnet
have been long believed to help protect against food poisoning, snake bites,
prevent a person from depression and sadness, cure most diseases of the blood
and heart palpitations, stop bleeding, relive inflammation and infections and
even help wearer enter into the perfect state for meditation.
Though Garnet is primarily found in India, Africa and
North America each distinct type of these gemstones has its own spots on our
planet.
Almandine - found in Brazil, India,
Madagascar, Sri Lanka, U.S., and New Mexico.
Malaya - found in Tanzania and Kenya.
Demantoid - primarily found in Russia, but is
also mined in Italy, Korea, and Zaire.
Hessonite - found in Kenya, Sri Lanka and
Tanzania.
Pyrope - found in US, Australia,
Czechoslovakia, Zimbabwe and Mozambique.
Rhodolite - found in India, Sri Lanka,
Tanzania, and Zimbabwe.
Spessartite - found in Namibia, Brazil,
Pakistan, Sri Lanka, US and Germany.
Tsavorite - found in Kenya and Tanzania.
Uvarovite - found in Russia.
Garnet is a family of gemstones, each with its distinct
colors and characteristics: rhodolite, malaya, demantoid, hessonite,
spessartite, almandine, pyrope, tsavorite and uvarovite, and sometimes it is
found in combinations of these varieties. Garnets form under high temperature
and/or pressure deep within the Earth.
Other than Demantoid there are no treatments utilized for
the garnets. However to improve the color, Demantoid is sometimes heat-treated,
the results are stable and permanent.
Ranging between 6 and 7 on the Mohs' scale of hardness
Garnet is easily cracked and scratched, so they should be protected from
impacts.
Other than Demantoid most varieties of Garnet could be
cleaned in the Ultrasonic machines, but steamers should never be used. You
shouldn't expose your Garnets to sudden temperature changes, harsh cleaners and
chemicals. Your safest bet is to wash your Garnet jewelry in a warm solution of
mild liquid detergent and water. If you need to use a brush, make sure that is
very soft and scrub very gently. Remember to rinse and dry thoroughly after
you're done cleaning.