Garnet Jewelry

Posted by Laurie Zeiden on Jan 02, 2017

Garnet refers to a group of minerals in various colors. Garnet is the January birthstone. The most commonly available garnet is dark red in color. Other names are given to other colors. Almandine garnets are darkest red leaning toward brown. Spessartine and Mandarin garnets are uncommon and orange in color. Demantoids and Tsavorite garnets are green in color.

Crystal Structure Model of Garnet from Wikipedia

Garnets are used as found. Enhancements just as heat treatments used with other gemstones have proven ineffective with this mineral.

Rough Garnets

Garnets in jewelry have been used for over 5,000 years or more. Garnet jewelry has been found in both ancient Roman and Egyptian burial sites.

GARNET JEWELRY

BOHEMIAN GARNET JEWELRY

Bohemian garnet jewelry is known for its encrusted close-set stones, which are often rose cut and sometimes combined with larger cabochons and faceted stones. Bohemia, a region currently part of the Czech Republic, was at the center of costume jewelry production in the 1920s with it's production of glass and rhinestone beads and materials. Garnets have been mined in the area since the 16th century.