The Garnet family is chemically as complex as its varieties suggest. The term Garnet does not stand for a single mineral but a group of similar minerals namely, Pyrope, Almandine, Spessartite, Andradite, Grossularite, Hydrogrossular and Uvarovite; also referred to as the species of Garnets. Depending on the intermingling of these species the family offers various hues. The industry gives names to these blends such as Rhodolite Garnet having a purplish red to pink color and the Malaia Garnet exhibiting a sunset orange color, the two most preferred Garnets as far as gemstone jewelry is concerned.



The Garnet family offers a much more rich color spectrum than known to most people. To list these one can come up with a whole range of references from the fruit family; you have the raspberry of rhodolite, the Welch's juice color of grape Garnet, mandarin Garnet's fresh orange, and the lime green of tsavorite and demantoid. Both the green Garnet varieties are extremely rare and brilliant and are often seen drooping in gemstone pendants.

The popularity of garnets in gemstone jewelry is attributed to the extensive color array offered. Garnets are usually witnessed in gemstone earrings, danglers in particular, in combination with diamonds or other gemstone varieties.

The only color that Garnets are believed not occurring in is the blue; but recently, a greenish-blue stone has been discovered in the late 1990s in Bekily, Madagascar put this belief on test. This gemstone changes its color from blue green in day light to purple in incandescent light and is found in parts of United States, Russia and Turkey. The color changing array of Garnets ranges from shades of green, beige, brown and gray when seen in daylight which covert to reddish or purple pink colors when seen under incandescent light.

Color isn't all that is offered by Garnets; there are rich rarities such as the Star Garnets which is recognized for its beauty in rings when used with as a solitaire stone. They command a high refractive index causing Garnet's high brilliance. They hold a position of 7 ? 7.5 on Moh's scale of hardness. Most commonly occurring in round, oval and cushion cut, these brilliant gemstones are easy to care for owing to their durability.

One can keep pace with the changing styles and color trends, courtesy wide color spectrum offered by the Garnet family. With such wide variety you have a Garnet to match every color in your wardrobe and one that would surely complement your personal style.