Garnets are a set of silicate minerals that form a group with gemstones in almost every colour. Red garnet is one of the most common and widespread of gems, found in metamorphic rocks . The name "garnet" comes fromthe Medieval Latin word, "granatum", which is an adjective meaning "dark-red". It has been used since the Bronze Age as gemstones and abrasives.

Garnet Identification

As it contains high concentrations of iron and/or manganese, a strong neodymium magnet can separate garnet from all other natural transparent gemstones. Refractive index can be used to distinguish garnet species and varieties. Hessonite canbe confused with chrysoberyl, zircon, cassiterite and spessartite but chrysoberyl is harder than hessonite.

Garnet Deposits

Garnet is found all over the world. Different types of garnet occur in different locations.

• Grossular: Hessonite comes chiefly from Sri Lanka and India. It is also found in Brazil and California. Fine green Grossular garnet comes from Kenya and Tanzania.
• Pyrope: China, Madagascar, Sri Lanka, Myanmar (Burma), South Africa, Tanzania, USA.
• Rhodolite: Brazil, India, Sri Lanka, Thailand, USA.
• Almandine: Brazil, India, Madagascar, Sri Lanka USA. Smaller deposits exist in Austria and the Czech Republic.
• Star Garnet: Star-stones are found in Madagascar, India and the United States.
• Spessartite: Brazil, China, Kenya.

Garnet Hue

A rich variety of garnet colours exists: greens, oranges, pinkish oranges, deeply saturated purplish reds and even some blues. The most commonly occurring color is red and the rarest is blue.Hessonite shows a characteristic red color, inclining to orange or yellow, much like that of zircon. Garnets can even exhibit the colour-change phenomenon similar to the rare gemstone alexandrite’ Garnet Clarity and Surface

Garnet clarity depends on the type of garnet . Gemstone-quality transparent specimens to the opaque varieties used for industrial purposes as abrasives, exist.It’s luster is categorized as vitreous or resinous .They are generally clean stones, however, almandine garnets sometimes have asbestos fibre inclusions. These inclusions cause a star effect. Red garnets often don’t have eye-visible inclusions.

Garnet Cut

Garnets are extremely versatile and can be cut in any fashion and shape but uvarovite, a green garnet that usually occurs as crystals is too small to cut. Red garnet is cut into standard shapes and sizes to allow easy setting into jewelry. They are usually cut into cabochons and beads.

Garnet care and cleaning

• Garnets are fairly tough and durable enough for all jewelry styles as long as they are treated with the proper care.
• They should be protected from hard blows, which could damage them.
• Avoid steam cleaning. Use warm soapy water and a soft cloth.
• The ultrasonic cleaner is usually safe except for stones that have fractures.