Rise of Garnet’s Popularity: A Timeline

Initially gaining prominence in European fine jewelry, garnets eventually found their way to the U.S. market. Their modern appeal stems from their hardness and the breadth of colors available, beyond just the signature deep red.

Prominent Figures Wearing Garnet Jewelry

A notable garnet piece is a Victorian-era pyrope tiara showcased at The Smithsonian, reflecting the gem’s fiery beauty.

Before becoming the Duchess of Cambridge, Kate Middleton was gifted a garnet and pearl birthstone ring by Prince William, symbolizing his commitment.

Stars such as Kristen Bell and Sofía Vergara have been seen on red carpets donning magnificent garnet earrings.

Evaluating Garnet’s Worth

Beyond its renowned deep red, garnet’s value is influenced by various other traits and color grades.

Price Determinants

Evaluating garnet prices involves considering aspects such as type, carat weight, color and clarity, and cut. While garnets with inclusions may be valued at approximately $500 per carat, rarer and clearer specimens can range from $2,000 to $7,000 per carat. Below is a deeper exploration of these elements.

Garnet Varieties

Garnets are categorized into two primary groups: calcium-rich and magnesium-rich types. These are further classified into six types: almandine, pyrope, spessartite, grossular, andradite, and uvarovite, each celebrated for its specific hue.

• Almandine: Exhibits a deep red color with a violet tinge, attributed to aluminum silicate.
• Pyrope: Commonly found and spans from purplish-red to dark blood-red, consisting of magnesium or calcium aluminum silicate.
• Rhodolite: Noted for its rose-red or purple-red shades and typically free of visible flaws and inclusions.
• Spessartite: Ranges from vibrant orange to reddish-brown, resembling cinnamon.
• Demantoid: These rare light-green garnets, prized for their intense color and brilliance, are derived from the andradite mineral and may contain inclusions similar to natural diamonds.
• Grossularite: Composed of aluminum and calcium, with subcategories such as:
  • Tsavorite: A valuable green or emerald-green garnet.
  • Hydrogrossular: Opaque and greenish in tone.
  • Leuco: A colorless type of garnet.

Weight and Purity

Garnets come in varying weights and sizes. Common varieties like almandine are found in relatively large sizes but do not greatly increase in value. In contrast, rarer types like demantoid and tsavorite become significantly more valuable with increased size due to their scarcity.

The color of garnets is a crucial factor in determining their value. While red garnets are the most frequent, other colors like orange, brown, yellow, pink, green, blue, and colorless exist, with shades such as peach, green, and blue being particularly rare. For instance, both tsavorite and demantoid are green but belong to different garnet types.

Clarity of garnets varies by type. Red garnets (almandine, pyrope, rhodolite) generally lack visible inclusions, while orange garnets (such as spessartine and hessonite) may display visible inclusions.

Facet Quality

Garnets are often cut into standard sizes to fit into jewelry easily. With a Mohs hardness rating between 6.5 and 7.5, they are adaptable to various cuts. Well-cut garnets showcase symmetrical facets and reduce inclusions. Unique and more valuable garnets like tsavorite and demantoid are often cut to maximize carat weight.

Selecting Garnet

Renowned for their splendid colors and shine, garnets are not only visually appealing but are also durable and cost-effective. They rank between 6.5 to 7.5 on the Mohs scale, providing an excellent mix of quality and affordability. Garnet jewelry makes an especially thoughtful gift for those born in January, as it is their birthstone.