Red Garnet (Pyrope/Almandine)

Exceptional red colors from East Africa – the classic color of garnet

Red Garnets are the classic gem Garnet that everyone knows.

In olden times (before the development of sophisticated gemological techniques) almost any red gemstone was known as ‘carbuncle’, derived from the Latin word for “live coal” or burning charcoal.

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.

Like most gem quality garnets this is formed from a mix of different species of garnet – in this case primarily pyrope and almandine.

Red Garnets generally saturate in color as they get bigger in size, like most gem quality garnets.

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.

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

Lots of choice for January birthdays!

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

click here to see a selection of Red Garnet (Pyrope/Almandine) for sale

Colors

red

orange-red

Family/Species

Garnet, Pyrope and Pyrope-Almandine

note: pure Pyrope is colorless and does not exist in nature; almost all Pyrope available in the market has an Almandine component in it and is colored by the trace element Chromium

Properties

RI=1.746 (-0.026, +0.010)

SG=3.78

Dispersion= 0.027

Hardness=7-7.5

highly suitable for use in jewelry

Treatments

 None

Important information

100% Natural Garnet which is not normally treated in any way at all

see policy on Treatment Disclosure

Birthstone

January

Anniversary

2nd

Cuts

Calibrated sizes up to 10mm

Standard and fancy checkerboard cuts

Mining locations

Tanzania (Lindi District, Umba Valley) and  Kenya