Garnet
Garnet traces its roots to the Nile Delta in 3100 B.C., where Egyptian artisans would craft the gemstone into beads or inlay them into hand-wrought jewelry. Noah used garnet as a lamp on his bow as he cast about on the ocean. Garnet received its name from the ancient Greeks because the color reminded them of the "granatum," or pomegranate seed.
The versatile garnet comes in a virtual rainbow of colors, from the deep red Bohemian Garnet to the vibrant greens of the Russian demantoid and African tsavorite. The oranges and browns of spessartite and hessonite hail from Namibia and Sri Lanka and the subtle pinks and purples of the rhododendron flower, are also yours to explore.
Garnet is the traditional birthstone for the month of January, however, red need not be your color of choice if you are born in this month. Rich orange and golden hues, striking greens, petal soft colors of violet and lavender, all await your selection. More information on Garnet can be found here.
FACTS
MINERAL: Garnet group
CHEMISTRY:
Almandine- Fe3Al2(SiO4)3
Andradite- Ca3Fe2(SiO4)3
Grossular- Ca3Al2(SiO4)3
Pyrope- Mg3Al2(SiO4)3
Rhodolite- (Mg, Fe)3Al2(SiO4)3
Spessartine- Mn3Al2(SiO4)3
COLOR: All colors
REFRACTIVE INDEX: 1.714-1.888
BIREFRINGENCE: None
SPECIFIC GRAVITY: 3.47-4.15
MOHS HARNESS: 6.5-7.5
CHEMISTRY:
Almandine- Fe3Al2(SiO4)3
Andradite- Ca3Fe2(SiO4)3
Grossular- Ca3Al2(SiO4)3
Pyrope- Mg3Al2(SiO4)3
Rhodolite- (Mg, Fe)3Al2(SiO4)3
Spessartine- Mn3Al2(SiO4)3
COLOR: All colors
REFRACTIVE INDEX: 1.714-1.888
BIREFRINGENCE: None
SPECIFIC GRAVITY: 3.47-4.15
MOHS HARNESS: 6.5-7.5
-Source AGTA, GIA