Though red is the most predominant color amongst Garnets, they can be found in a rich range of shades. A “Garnet” is the denomination of a group of over ten different stones with similar chemical structure. Garnets can appear as green, orange, yellow, earthy and umbra shades. Blue is the only color not available as a Garnet. The realm of Garnets also possesses rarities such as asterism, or stones which change their color in daylight and artificial light.

Garnets not only come in many colors but also under many names: Andradite, Demantoid, Grossularite, Hessonite, Pyrope, Rhodolith, Tsavorith, Spessartine, Uwarowite. The fiery red Pyrope was popular as a gemstone in the 18th and 19th centuries. Bohemian Garnets from the northeast of the kingdom of Bohemia were also popular at the time. In Europe the Garnet often adorned Victorian jewelry, being arranged into shapes that mimicked the patterns of seeds in a pomegranate. Even today they are arranged tightly together in this pattern, mainly in the Czech Republic. Garnets seen arranged in rosette patterns are generally the larger Almandines, from Alabanda in Asia Minor. They are preferred as central stones as the crystals are found in larger dimensions. Rhodolith, a crystal mixture from Almandine and Pyrope, is a popular red Garnet showing a velvety red with a fine purple or raspberry-colored undertone. Originally discovered in the USA, it is mainly found nowadays in gemstone mines in East Africa, India and Sri Lanka.

Some years ago bright orange to red Spessartine Garnets, which were originally named after their occurrence in the German Spessart Mountains, were discovered in Namibia. Prior to this discovery, spessartines were considered very rare and collectable. Afterwards they became referred to as “Mandarin” Garnets for their orange color, and were extremely popular. The mines in Namibia could only last a few years, as prospecting in the bush was very difficult and expensive, and the stones became again rare until another sensational discovery in Nigeria. The Nigerian and Namibian stones are so similar in color and brilliance that only experienced experts can tell them apart.

Grossularite is a green Garnet which ranges in shade from yellow to green to brown in its highlights. In the last year of the 20th century large Grossularite occurrences were discovered in Mali. These Garnets are incredible brilliant and are often used in ethno-centric jewelry. Tsavorith or Tsavolith is probably the most popular of the green Garnets. It was discovered in 1967 by British geologist Campbell R. Bridges in North-East Tanzania, near the famous Tsavo-National Park. It ranges from a light smooth green to a deep velvety green. The rare green Demantoid is a gemstone for connoisseurs and lovers. Carl Fabergé, Russia’s famous court jeweler, loved the brilliant green Garnet from the Urals and often used it in his creations. Demantoids from Namibia are very colorful and brilliant, but lack the notable “horsetail” inclusions which set apart the Russian Demantoids.

It is reported that Noah adorned his ark with Garnets. Garnet is often found in jewelry from ancient Greek, Roman, and Egyptian times. They were considered precious talismans and protective stones. They were believed to prevent evil and illuminate a dark night.

Garnets have a hardness from 7 to 7.5 on the Moh’s scale. They are thus very sturdy and resistant to scratches. They are, however, affected by heat and hard impact. They are uncomplicated to work into jewelry. Garnets have a high refraction of light, and thus an amazing brilliance. The word “Garnet” stems from the Latin word for “grain”, and as rough crystals, Garnets are an interesting graininess which are reminiscent of the seeds of a pomegranate. Garnet was referred to in German in the past as “karfunkel”, which is the word for the glowing coals after a fire. Other names for the stone are Arizona Ruby, Arizona Spinel, Montana Ruby or New Mexico Ruby.

Garnets come mainly from African countries, also from India, Russia, Central and South America. Cutters all over the world shape them in many classical forms and more and more also in modern fancy designer’s cuts.