Garnet stone:Symbolic Meaning, Identification, clean

1.Instrument Identification

Ruby, red spinel and hydrogrossular all look similar to garnet.

However, ruby is inhomogeneous, has dichroism, has obvious fluorescence reaction, can have straight color bands, and needle-shaped inclusions can form an angle of 120°; while spinel has a low refractive index, has fluorescence reaction, and can have octahedral inclusions.

However, garnet is homogeneous, has no dichroism, and demantoid garnet can have horsetail-shaped inclusions. High-quality hydrogrossular is bright green, very similar to jadeite. Hydrogrossular often has black spots and a refractive index of 1.73.

2.Evaluation Criteria for High Quality Garnets

• Color: The color of garnet crystals tends to be deeper than other crystals, making lighter shades particularly rare.Therefore, garnets that look almost black are considered to be of the lowest quality. With the exception of the rare demantoid garnet, the most common garnet is red. 
• Cracks: Natural crystals will have natural ice cracks, which is a normal phenomenon for garnets. It is extremely difficult to find one without any cracks! If there is no crack at all, the quality is very high. It is normal for garnets to have ice cracks, but the fewer the internal fractures, the higher the quality.
• Crystal transparency: The more transparent the crystal, the higher its value. High-quality garnet bracelets are particularly popular because each bead appears clear and translucent under a single light source, just like a plump, juicy pomegranate seed.
• Overall Quality: High-grade garnet has a bright surface with a strong luster.

3.The Grade of Garnet

5A super good：Rich red and the garnet that has no visible imperfections to the naked eye.

3A best: Medium red and the garnet that has no visible imperfections.

2ABetter: Dark to Medium red and there are slightly imperfections in the garnet stone.

A Good：Dark red and also with slightly imperfections.

Price of Garnets

The price of garnet varies widely, ranging from expensive to affordable, depending on a variety of factors. The common types of Garnet are red Pyrope, green Tsavorite, spessartite, the rarer the variety the higher the price.

Besides, the price of garnet is also related to the color and clarity, the more vivid color and transparency of the garnet the more valuable.Regardless, not everyone likes highly transparent stones, everyone has their own preferences.

The price of Garnets are also related to the weight origin, cut and processing. The price of garnet jewelry is more closely tied to craftsmanship, while branding also plays a significant role.

Anyway, basing the price of a garnet engagement ring or garnet necklace solely on the quality of the gemstone is highly unreasonable. The creation of such jewelry requires significant effort, and the final price is influenced by factors such as the metal used and the level of craftsmanship.

Where Is Garnet Found?

The garnets are found in various regions and countries worldwide. During the Victorian era, Bohemia was a prominent source of pyrope garnets.

In 19th-century Russia, the Russian royal family favored green demantoid garnets from the Ural Mountains, while renowned jeweler Peter Carl Fabergé (1846–1920) incorporated garnets into his exquisite jewelry pieces.

Presently, Africa serves as the primary supplier of global garnet production. Namibia produces demantoid garnets, whereas Kenya, Tanzania, and Madagascar are major sources for emerald green tsavorite on the market.

Additionally, Namibia and Tanzania contribute significantly to rich orange-yellow spessartine garnet supplies.

However, garnet can also be found in Myanmar, Brazil, Iran Afghanistan Pakistan India Sri Lanka.

Care and Cleaning for Garnet

Garnets are good jewelry stones, especially for engagement rings, Therefore it is very important to know how to clean gemstone jewelry.

Garnets of various varieties have a hardness ranging from 6.5 to 7.5 on the Mohs scale, making them more susceptible to damage compared to rubies, sapphires, and diamonds.

As a result, garnets can be scratched if they come into contact with harder thing or stones. Most garnets are untreated; however, in rare cases, some may undergo fracture-filling treatment where the surface fractures are filled with a glass-like substance to enhance clarity. Such treated gems require special care.

Therefore, using a soft-bristled brush and warm soapy water is always recommended as a safe option to clean the garnet stone. Ultrasonic and s'tream cleaneing can also be used except for gems with fractures or fracture-filled ones. 

Symbolic Meaning of Garnet

• Garnet sevrves as the birthstone of January and 2th anniversary gemstone. 
• It is the gemstone for winter and the astrological sign of Capricorn and Aquarius. symbolizing "absolute consciousness", frankness, care and consideration, broad-mindedness, peace-loving and decisiveness. 
• Garnet also symbolizes the ability to bring protection and The ability to defend.
• Being called "passion gemstone", Garnet is believed to ignite passion and maintain harmonious relationships. 
• In ancient Egypt , Garnet is believed have a healing effect and is a healing stone for the soul. 
• Suggest to read: January birthstone: stories about why garnets are given different meanings.