Among the large families of stones used in jewelry, the garnet is probably one of the most recognised.
Because of the large number of elements that make up the garnet, it is a fine stone with a very wide range of colours. It is without doubt ne of the most widely used gemstones in the world of jewelry.
Through this guide, we invite you to discover the many secrets of garnet, with a particular focus on the “ Pyrope ” and “ Rhodolite ” varieties featured in our range.
Before going into more detail, let's first look at its history and origins.
The history of garnet
Used in jewelry for thousands of years, the garnet was considered by the greatest civilisations of our history as one of the most precious jewels.
The stone is found on many of the necklaces of the Pharaohs of ancient Egypt and as a seal to mark important documents in Roman times.
The name garnet comes from the Latin granatium meaning "pomegranate", inspired by the burgundy red colour of this fruit, and from the Greekpuropus as garnet was compared to eyes of fire.
Did you know that?
The demantoid garnet is one of the rarest garnets on the planet and one of Russia's treasures. The deep green colour of this species of garnet is known as the emerald of Russia.
This exceptional mineral was widely used by one of the most famous jewellers in history: Carl Fabergé.
Working mainly for the Russian imperial family, he was the creator of the famous "Fabergé eggs", considered to be among the most beautiful masterpieces in the history of jewelry.
The origins of garnet
Garnets are found on every continent of the world. The main producers are India,Tanzania and Madagascar.
There are also garnet deposits in France, notably in the Pyrénées Orientales near Perpignan.
The main characteristics of garnet
Garnet is a stone that comes in a variety of colours, from burgundy red for pyrope garnet, to the soft pinkish red of rhodolite garnet, as well as the golden orange for spessartite garnet or even green for demantoid garnet... or tsavorite! And yes, this rare and magnificent stone also belongs to the garnet family!
But what are the main characteristics of this family?
—— Its colour
Like most gemstones, the origin of the stone often defines its colour. Depending on the geological conditions in each geographical area, garnet can take on several colours.
One may encounter almandine garnet with its deep brownish-red hue, Spessartite garnet ranging from orange to brown, as well as the two varieties we offer at Gemmyo: pyrope garnet and rhodolite garnet.
Pyrope garnet is distinguished by its deep red color, often tinged with subtle brown or burgundy undertones. Thanks to its rich hue, it offers a more accessible alternative to the renowned ruby and is among the fine gemstones particularly appreciated by a male clientele.
Rhodolite garnet, by contrast, stands out with its soft, velvety cherry-red tone. More luminous than pyrope, it enchants with its brilliance and the shimmering vibrancy of its reflections.
Please note: We highly recommend visiting one of our boutiques to compare these two varieties in person and select the shade that best resonates with you.
—— Its hardness
From 7 to 8/10 on the Mohs scale, Pyrope garnet is one of the hardest gemstones, along with spinel, topaz or aquamarine because it is formed under high pressure.
Sometimes used in industry as an abrasive, at Gemmyo we prefer to recommend it for everyday link_start}jewelry!
FAQs
—— "Where do your garnets come from?"
At Gemmyo, all our Pyrope garnets are sourced from Madagascar. Our Rhodolite garnets also originate from Madagascar, as well as Tanzania—another country renowned for the quality of its deposits. Garnets from these regions are celebrated for their brilliance and their particularly vivid nuances, highly sought after in fine jewelry.
—— "What is the quality of your garnets?"
All Gemmyo garnets are AAA quality, the highest quality available for a coloured stone!
Gemmology lovers, find out more about AAA quality.
—— "Which stone to choose between a garnet and a ruby?"
Garnet and ruby are two stones that are often compared. They are both red stones, and rightly so.
Nevertheless, the difference in colour between these two stones is quite clear. The rubyis a rather raspberry-red stone whereas the pyrope garnet, as we have seen, is a darker red.
It should also be noted that ruby is a much rarer stone than garnet, which is more exclusive and among the three hardest minerals on the planet
The great advantage of garnet, however, is that it is much cheaper than a ruby.
To find out more, read our complete guide to ruby.
—— "Which metal should be paired with garnet?"
Garnet is a stone that pairs perfectly with a white metal like platinum or white gold.
For a more luminous association, we recommend this stone with rose gold for a perfect harmony.
Yellow gold combined with garnet can also give it a slightly traditional look that will not be to everyone’s taste.
—— "What is the occasion for giving a garnet?”
Garnet is attributed to the month of January and to the zodiac sign of Aquarius.
Perhaps you are about to celebrate your 2nd wedding anniversary? In this case, we recommend garnet! It is the stone associated with this wedding.
Discover our garnet jewelry.
Discover our garnet earrings.
Discover our garnet pendants.
See all our precious stones.