Garnet

Garnet Stone Meaning and History

The name "garnet" originates from the medieval Latin word granatus, meaning "pomegranate," referring to the resemblance of its red color to the seeds of the fruit. Garnets have been utilized since the Bronze Age both as gemstones and abrasives. In ancient Egypt, necklaces adorned with red garnets graced the pharaohs, while in ancient Rome, signet rings featuring garnet intaglios were employed to seal important documents. During the Middle Ages, red garnets were favored by the clergy and nobility.

Garnet encompasses a group of several minerals, with five varieties—pyrope, almandine, spessartine, grossular, and andradite—being significant as gemstones. Pyrope and almandine range from purple to red, spessartine presents in vibrant oranges and yellows, and andradite, known as demantoid in its gem form, appears mostly yellow to green. Grossular exhibits a wide range of colors, from colorless through yellow to reddish-orange and orangy-red, including the vibrant green variety known as tsavorite.

The Smithsonian's renowned antique pyrope hair comb features prominently in the realm of garnet jewelry, adorned with a large rose-cut garnet at its crest. These pyrope garnets, sourced from the historic mines in Bohemia (now part of the Czech Republic), were immensely popular during the Victorian era, when the comb was crafted. According to Indian astrology, garnet is believed to dispel negative emotions like depression and guilt, while fostering self-confidence, mental clarity, and peace of mind. Throughout history, gems like garnet were also regarded as remedies for inflammatory diseases and were thought to have a calming effect on the soul.

Where is Garnet found?

Garnets originate from various regions and countries. Bohemia was the primary source of the red pyrope garnets highly favored during the Victorian era. Presently, the African continent is a major supplier of garnets worldwide. Namibia has emerged as a producer of demantoids, while Kenya, Tanzania, and Madagascar contribute most of the vibrant green tsavorites available in the market. Namibia and Tanzania also yield significant quantities of the rich orange-to-yellow spessartine garnets. Southern California's Little Three mining area was renowned for producing this captivating gem for many years. Garnets are also found in Myanmar, Brazil, Iran, Afghanistan, Pakistan, India, and Sri Lanka, among other countries.

Small-scale artisanal miners, like the tsavorite miner near Voi in Kenya, are estimated to provide approximately 80% of the world's gems.

Garnet Stone Care and Cleaning

The different types of garnets typically range between 6.5 and 7.5 on the Mohs scale of hardness. This implies that they are more prone to damage compared to rubies, sapphires, and diamonds. While not all garnets are suitable for daily wear, they are perfect for earrings, brooches, and pendants. Care should be taken to avoid rubbing them against harder gems like diamonds, rubies, and sapphires, as they can cause scratches. Conversely, garnets can scratch softer gems such as opals or pearls.

Most garnets undergo no treatment. However, in rare cases, some garnets might be fracture-filled, where treaters attempt to enhance the apparent clarity of the gem by filling surface-reaching breaks with a glass-like substance. Such treated stones require special care. Nonetheless, cleaning garnets with a soft brush and warm soapy water is always safe. Ultrasonic cleaners are generally safe, except for stones with fractures or those that have been fracture-filled. Steam cleaning is not recommended.