To ensure you get the best possible overview of the special features of the garnet in no time, you will find 5 facts about the gemstone garnet below.
And by the way, speaking of facts: Hubert Arnoldi of HC Arnoldi was one of the pioneers who introduced the mandarin garnet to the market.
5 facts about garnet
Fact 1: The garnet group
The term "garnet" is a collective term for several minerals. There are nearly 40 different commercially and historically known types of garnet. All of these garnet types share the same physical properties and crystal structure, though with different chemical trace elements that determine their color. In trade, the term "garnet" is usually used for the dark red variety.
Fact 2: The variety of colors
- Garnet comes in all colors except blue, as a blue garnet has not yet been found.
- Garnet gets its different colors from the metal it contains, such as manganese or calcium.
- The red color varieties, such as the Mozambique garnet, are especially well-known and popular.
- Garnet only appears in its original color in natural light. If you hold the gemstone under fluorescent light, for example, the garnet's color changes.
- Garnet can be transparent, translucent, or opaque.
Fact 3: Countries of origin
The gemstone types of the garnet group are mined in various countries around the world. These include India, Kenya, Nigeria, Tanzania, Madagascar, Mozambique, and Sri Lanka.
The precious demantoid, for example, is mined in Russia and Namibia. Here too, the country of origin can determine the price: because demantoid is rarely found in Russia, it is more expensive than the one from Namibia. Tsavorite is found in Kenya and Tanzania. The pink rhodolite is primarily found in India and Sri Lanka.
Fact 4: Commonalities of all garnets
- Streak color: white
- Mohs hardness: 6.5 to 7.5
- Cleavage: indistinct to none
- Crystals: (cubic) rhombic dodecahedron, icositetrahedron
- Fracture: conchoidal, splintery, brittle
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Fact 5: The precious history of garnet
In Greek mythology, garnet is mentioned in the legend of Persephone's abduction by Hades. The Vikings already used garnet jewelry as grave goods to light the way for the dead to Valhalla. In the Middle Ages, the stone was called "carbuncle." Here, "car" stands for darkness and "buncle" for the flame. Because crusaders felt safer under the protection of garnet, they adorned their armor with it. In the 19th century, Bohemian pyrope garnet was particularly highly valued and was used for many pieces of jewelry.
The representatives of the garnet group in our online shop
Rhodolite
The rhodolite belongs to the pyrope garnet group. Thanks to its violet-red color, it was a coveted gemstone as far back as the Roman Empire. The most significant deposits are located in Asia and Africa.
Mali garnet
The Mali garnet also belongs to the garnet group. As the name suggests, it comes from the Mali region. It has a yellow to yellowish-green color and, due to its high refractive index, a beautiful brilliance.
Mandarin garnet
The outdated name for mandarin garnet is "spessartine". This name comes from the first known location of the garnet type in the Spessart region of Germany. Nowadays, the name mandarin garnet is common, as the vibrant orange tone is reminiscent of a mandarin. The color usually varies between orange and yellow, but can also range from brownish-red to dark red to black.
Grossular
The grossular occurs in various colors but is characterized by its light, fresh, mint-green color.
The intensely green and emerald-green garnets also belong to the grossulars. However, due to their rarity, they are referred to as tsavorites.
The grossular garnet group also includes: hessonite, leucogarnet, hydrogrossular, tsavolite.
Other representatives of the garnet group:
Andradite
The andradite was first found in gemstone quality in 1978. It is also referred to as calcium-iron garnet. Its typical color is yellowish-gray to dark yellow.
The demantoid is a variety of the garnet mineral andradite and is the most expensive garnet variety. Its name means "diamond-like luster." Due to chromium, the color of demantoids ranges from a light green to emerald green.
The andradite garnet group includes: demantoid, melanite, topazolite, rainbow garnet.
Almandine
The almandine is the most common garnet within the garnet group. It received its name from a city in Asia Minor. Garnets from Radenthein are primarily almandines, often with a pyrope component. The mineral's color spectrum ranges from a dark brown to a shade of violet.
Uvarovite
Uvarovite is a rarely occurring island silicate of the garnet group. The hue varies from dark green to emerald green to brownish-green. Depending on purity, for example, the crystals can be glassy to greasy in luster and transparent to opaque.
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Garnet - An extremely popular jewelry stone
Due to the gemstone's high refractive index and hardness, it produces an extraordinary brilliance in all color shades, making garnet perfect for the centerpiece of a sparkling piece of jewelry. The red color variants in particular are highly sought after. Red garnet is striking, powerful, and festive. Conversely, emerald-green garnet is the most valuable.
