The name Garnet traditionally conjures up images of deep red gemstones with remarkable clarity. But, with the exception of Tourmaline, it’s not easy to think of another gemstone family that is discovered in such a wonderful inundation of different colours. The gem can be traced back to at least 5,500 years ago and, for over five and half millennia, Garnet has woven an enchanting path throughout history.

The stone is discovered right across the planet in many different lands, which may explain why its rich history spans the globe. Join us on our Garnet journey of discovery to learn about the history and science behind one of nature’s most colourful treasures.

THE HISTORY OF GARNET

Garnet has such a rich and diverse history that it has two regularly cited origin stories for its name. One states that the word comes from the Middle English word ‘gernet’ which means ‘dark red’, and another says that the name derived clickbet88 bola from the Latin word ‘granatus’, as it has a similar red hue and rough shape to the seeds of the pomegranate. It’s that latter of these two that is the true root of the name, as the word ‘gernet’ is itself derived from ‘granatus’.

It’s interesting to note that the colour red played such an essential role in the naming of the stone. Even today, many people associate the word Garnet with a deep, vibrant red gemstone that, throughout time, was often mistaken for Ruby. But Garnet has been discovered in a vast number of different colours and shades since its initial unearthing, as we’ll learn shortly.

It would be fascinating to know the exact moment that a Garnet stone was first picked from the earth and held aloft, its enchanting glow blooming in the sunlight. Alas, as with most gemstones, these moments are lost to time forever. What we do know, though, is that Garnet was found on the necklace of a mummified body that was uncovered in an Egyptian tomb, dated to around 3,500 BC; so, we know that Garnet was already being set into jewellery over 5,500 years ago.

About 200 years later, as the Bronze age dawned across Europe, Africa and Southeast Asia, Garnet was in widespread use both decoratively and as an abrasive – a purpose that non-gem grade Garnet still fulfils today.

The Greek philosopher Plato of Athens (428 BC – 348 BC) was said to have had his portrait engraved into a large Garnet by a Roman craftsman. Another noted Greek philosopher, Aristotle (384 BC – 322 BC), wrote about Garnet nearly 2,500 years ago, saying, “The Garnet is a red gem, but not like the Ruby, its red is much more like that of a flame. If correctly cut and polished, it will reveal all its beauty and perfection.”

GARNET GEMSTONE INFORMATION

Garnet is the sole birthstone for January, which seems appropriate given the sheer number of varieties available. It’s the suggested wedding anniversary stone for both the 2nd and 18th anniversaries, and is also listed as an alternate gift stone for the 15th, 19th and 25th celebrations. Garnet is the gemstone for the zodiac sign of Aquarius, too.

The gem occurs entirely naturally in a kaleidoscope of colours, including red, orange, yellow, green, purple, brown, black, pink and colourless. The only notable exception is blue, but even then, a phenomenal colour change variety exists that shifts between blue and pinky-claret when viewed under incandescent light.

ll these beautiful jewels fit into the Garnet family tree, which is made up of three distinct levels. At the top, we have the group, which is split into two halves called the Pyralspite Garnets and the Ugrandite Garnets. These two halves each contain three species; the Pyrope, Almandine and Spessartite species live on the Pyralspite side of the family, and the Uvarovite, Grossular and Andradite species live on the Ugrandite side. The specific variations of Garnet then sit under these species, with many varieties being a hybrid of two or more species.

GARNET CRYSTAL HEALING

Gemstones are as old as time, and in the years since their first discovery they’ve picked up a lot more than adoring collectors and fascinated mineralogists. Many have gained stories regarding their legend, lore and healing properties, and whilst there’s no evidence to suggest that any of these properties are real, it’s still interesting to explore the esoteric side of Mother Nature’s miracles.

It’s worth asking ourselves, “If you truly believe in something, does that mean it’s true”? Scientifically, the answer is no, but what about on a more personal, spiritual level? If you really truly believe that an item in your house is having an effect on you, are you more likely to feel that effect? It’s really not for us to say, but it’s a very interesting concept that deserves further research.

Once again though, we must point out though that no studies have ever found any therapeutic effects or properties in gemstones, and the following is for your information only.

WHERE IS GARNET MINED?

Most Garnet that we sell comes from India, Kenya, Mozambique, Tanzania and Madagascar. But the gem has been discovered in a surprising number of countries around the globe. These include Afghanistan, Australia, Brazil, Myanmar (Burma), Russia, Sri Lanka and the United States, as well as many more. It has even been discovered on the British Isles. Ruby Bay, just to the east of Fife in Scotland, was named after a red gemstone which was found there. The stone was thought to be Ruby but was later discovered to be Garnet.

VARIETIES OF GARNET

This mix of Almandine and Pyrope Garnet types is a well known and much loved purplish-red variety with raspberry, rose and grape coloured undertones. Named after the Greek ‘rhodon’ and ‘lithos’, which together translate as ‘rose stone’, this name was first used to describe a pink coloured Garnet from North Carolina, USA. Rhodolite Garnet tends to be lighter in colour than most other red Garnets, and has even been confused with Ruby due to their similarity.

Rhodolite Garnet is also highly refractive which leads to its stunning brilliance. Due to its similarity in colour to several other members of its family, it is believed that Indian tribes used the gem to enhance the potency of fire and placed it next to those who were sick in order to aid recovery. Our Rajasthan Garnet is a top-quality Rhodolite Garnet variety that is mined in India.

RHODOLITE GARNET RAJASTHAN GARNET

A stunning, light, peachy orange through to cinnamon red member of the Garnet group, Hessonite is a real collector’s gemstone that achieves its vivid colours entirely from the work of Mother Nature. Hessonite has a slightly lower hardness than most other Garnets, and it is due to this that its name is unfortunately derived from the Greek word ‘hesson’ meaning inferior. However, the gem still registers seven on the Mohs scale, so is anything but inferior. HESSONITE GARNETTsavorite has a beautiful, vivid green colour and is a bright, lively gem with a high refractive index. It is considered among the most desirable of all Garnets and, until its discovery in 1968, no other gemstone except Emerald could offer such a vibrant green colour. The first deposit was discovered in Tanzania by Scottish gemologist Campbell R Bridges, who later traced the gem to the Tsavo National Park in Kenya, from where its name is derived. TSAVORITE GARNET

HOW TO CLEAN GARNET

The best way to clean Garnet is the tried and tested ‘warm soapy water’ method. Add a little mild detergent (such as washing up liquid) to a bowl of warm water and then use a soft, ideally lint-free, microfibre cloth to gently buff the gemstone with the liquid. Always try to clean the underside of the gem too, as dirt on the pavilion of the stone can cause it to appear dull.