Garnets are part of a large family of silicate minerals that have similar physical properties but vary in chemical composition.

The name ‘Garnet’ derives from the Latin word for seed, possibly associated with the fruit Pomegranate whose seed covers resemble some Garnets.

There are several species of Garnets including Pyrope, Almandine, Spessartine, Grossular, Uvarovite and Andradite.

Almost all garnets are a mix of two or more species.

Pure Garnet would be colorless; it is the trace elements that give garnets their colors. For example, iron and chromium create reds and greens; chromium and vanadium create greens, and manganese creates pinks and oranges.

Some of the trade names used for Garnets include:

Color-Change – for rare garnets that show different colors under different lighting conditions

‘Dragon’ (Color Change ‘Dragon’ and Malaya ‘Dragon’) – for rare garnets that glow under UV light, from East Africa

Hessonite – for yellow to yellow-orange to brown Garnets

Mint Grossular – for pastel green Garnets from East Africa

Mali Garnet – for yellow to chartreuse and brown Garnets from Mali in West Africa

Malaya Garnet – for peachy-pink to peachy-orange Garnets from East Africa

Tsavorite – for medium to dark green Garnets from East Africa

Rhodolite – for purplish-red Garnets

Umbalite – for pink to pinkish-purple to reddish-purple Garnets from East Africa

Garnet is the birthstone for January, celebrates the 2nd Anniversary and comes in almost all colors of the spectrum including the rare color-change.

Lots of choice for January birthdays!

We have many colors, shapes and sizes available in Garnets – please contact us if you don’t find what you are looking for in our online inventory.

Here is a link to GIA’s Buyer’s Guide to Garnets:
https://www.gia.edu/garnet