Garnet

The name given to a group of isomorphous minerals of different composition and colour.

Almandine is of a deep velvety red and the most widely used in jewelry making. In Austria and Czechoslovakia it is faceted and used for highly elaborate jewelry. In India it is cut as beads or en cabochon. The best stones are those that are not too dark.

Glossularite is generally olive green, but there are also yellow, red, brown and violet varieties. It is slightly glassy in appearance and only transparent crystals are used for jewelry.

Pyrope is similar to Almandine, but is lighter in colour and brighter, even though it is translucent. It is often mistaken for ruby. Transparent specimens are faceted or cut en cabochon. It was very popular during the Victorian period.

Rhodolite is half-way between almandine and pyrope, being of a rhododendron red colour, and is the most prized of the garnets. The fire of top-quality rhodolite is indeed magnificent.

Garnet is found in Ceylon, Australia, Madagascar, India, Australia and Brazil.