Garnet is a fine stone belonging to a very large family. Almandine, Demantoid, Hessonite, Rhodolite, Spessartite, Topazolite, Malaya, Tsavorite etc. These gems come in a wide variety of colors and origins. Here, we present some of the best-known, along with their characteristics and properties, to help you tell them apart.
Garnet varieties
Almandine garnet
Almandine is the most common garnet and probably the most widely used in jewelry. It is said to be “ferriferous”, as it is very rich in ferrous iron. This chemical element is the source of its color, which ranges from medium to dark red, through orange to purplish hues. The name Almandin comes from the town of Alabanda in Asia Minor, an ancient garnet-cutting center.
There are numerous Almandine deposits around the world. But the finest gem qualities are mined mainly in India, Madagascar, Namibia, Mozambique, Tanzania, Sri Lanka and the United States. It is generally faceted. However, it is sometimes found in cabochon cut, which has the advantage of generally presenting an asterism.
Demantoid garnet
Demantoid garnet is always green (a variety of andradite garnet). Its shades range from meadow green to emerald green to yellow-green. The name Demantoid comes from the Old German “demant” or the Greek “adamas” for “diamond”. Alluding to the resemblance of its fire and brilliance to that of a diamond.
It is probably one of the rarest garnets, found mainly in Russia. As a result of its high price, it is one of the few to be used primarily in high-end jewelry. In fact, it’s nicknamed the emerald of Russia.
The best-known deposit is located in Russia’s Urals region. It’s one of the most sought-after sources, as the brilliance and vivid color of the stones extracted from it are second to none. But there are many other demantoid deposits around the world. These include Erongo in Namibia, Ambanja in Madagascar, Kerman in Iran, Kashmir in Pakistan and Piedmont in Italy.
Hessonite garnet
Hessonite garnet is a beige, brown or orange variety of grossular garnet. The name Hessonite comes from the ancient Greek “hesson ‘ meaning ’lesser” or “inferior”. This is a reference to its lower hardness and density than most other garnets.
Hessonite garnet is sometimes called cinnamon stone, in allusion to its color. This color is mainly due to the presence of ferrous iron in its molecular structure.
The main hessonite deposits are found in Tanzania (Lelatema), Madagascar (Maevatanana), Vermont (USA), Canada (Asbestos), Sri Lanka (Okkampitiya and Kataragama), Jharkhand (India) and Balistan (Pakistan). There are also other deposits in Brazil and Italy.
Malaya garnet
Malaya or Malaia garnet is unique in that it is composed of both Pyrope garnet and Spessartite garnet molecules. The name Malaya comes from Kiswahili (a language native to southern Kenya), and means “banished” or “rejected”. Alluding to the difficulty of classifying this garnet among the other members of its family.
Its chemical composition, with traces of chromium, gives it the ability to change color slightly according to the type of light to which it is exposed. It is this particularity that makes Malaya more specifically used in luxury jewelry.
As Malaya remains a trade name, the scientific name for this variety is Pyro-Spessartite Garnet, Pyrope-Spessartite or Pyrospessartite.
Pyrope garnet
Pyrope garnet takes its name from the Greek “pyro” (fire), alluding to its color and brilliance.
Pyrope is not as common as Almandine garnet. Indeed, deposits are rare and its extraction is not very profitable. It is also known as “Bohemian garnet ” because the most famous deposit was in Bohemia in the Czech Republic, which is now virtually exhausted. Pyrope garnet is mined mainly in the USA, Australia, China, Burma, Sri Lanka, Madagascar, South Africa and Tanzania.
It is generally free of visible inclusions and this characteristic, combined with its beautiful deep, bright red color, makes this variety of garnet highly sought-after in jewelry.
Rhodolite garnet
The name “Rhodolite” is a trade name derived from the Greek or Latin “rhodo”, meaning rose (color). Because its color can vary from light pink to deep fuchsia to dark violet. But in reality, the gem’s true scientific name is “Grenat Pyrope-Almandin ”, as this variety is a blend of Grenat Almandin and Grenat Pyrope.
Rhodolite deposits are found mainly in Tanzania, Kenya, Mozambique, Malawi, Zimbabwe, Madagascar, Brazil, the USA, Sri Lanka, India, Afghanistan, Pakistan and Thailand.
Spessartite garnet
The name “Spessartite” derives from a locality in Bavaria where this gemstone was first discovered: Spessart. Spessartite garnet is a predominantly orange variety of garnet, with warm tones ranging from orange-red to bright orange. Bright orange gems are known as “Fanta garnet” and are among the most sought-after.
Spessartite garnet deposits are found mainly in Africa. The finest gems are mined in Namibia and Nigeria, but they are also found in Tanzania, Mozambique, Madagascar, the USA, Brazil, China, Pakistan and Sri Lanka.
Tsavorite garnet
The name Tsavorite comes from the eponymous Tsavo National Park in southern Kenya. It was here that this variety of garnet was discovered in 1967 by Scottish geologist Campbell Bridges.
Tsavorite is the green variety of Grossular garnet. Its beautiful, intense green color is due to the presence of vanadium and chromium in its chemical composition.
Tsavorite is a rare gem particularly sought-after in jewelry. Its color is reminiscent of the finest Zambian or Colombian emeralds, but unlike them, Tsavorite is not subject to any embellishment treatment.
The main deposits are in Tanzania and Kenya. Tsavorite garnet is also found in smaller quantities in Madagascar and Quebec.
