Garnet jewelry

Garnet, in technical terms means a composition of more than ten different gemstones of similar chemical composition. It derives its names from granum the Latin for grain. However the popular belief is that the stone derived its name from pomegranate since the small red stoned clustered together resembled the seeds of the fruit. Though red is the most common color for garnet, spectacular finds, especially in Africa, shows that it also exists in various shades of green, yellow, orange and other earth colors. Earlier it was believed that garnet cannot offer a Blue color, however the same has now also been discovered in Bekily, Madagascar in 1990. The color of garnet may also change depending on whether it is seen in natural or artificial light.

It is for this variety of color spectrum that garnets today are able to keep pace with changes in color trends and fashion for their use in jewellery, even though the use of garnets have been known to man for thousands of years. Garnets were used in jewellery during the Greek, Egyptian and Roman times. Noah, it is said, used a garnet lantern to help him steer his ark through the dark night. Early explorers and travelers used to carry garnet with them as a talisman and a protective stone, since it used to light up the night and it was believed to ward off evil from the bearer. In Europe, during the Victorian period, garnets were used in jewellery to a good extent. The Bohemian garnet small stones with wonderful hue were famous all over the world at that time. The traditional Bohemian garnet jewellery was set with a large number of small stones close to one another with their red sparkle, looking like the seeds of pomegranate. The tradition is still followed in Czechoslovakia in jewellery making which shows that the beauty of a classic garnet jewellery lies mainly in the beauty of the gemstones.

So what makes garnet such a favourite for jewellery making

Well, first of all its good hardness of 7 7.5 on Mohs scale. They are also relatively insensitive and uncomplicated to work with, unless they are subjected to improper heat treatment. Further another advantage is its high refractive index, which gives such brilliance to the gemstone. The deep warm colors of the stone have fascinated both the sexes because of which garnet jewellery is sought after even today. Garnet is the birth stone for the people born in January, and hence garnet jewellery makes an excellent gift for them. It is also considered a symbol of friendship, love, faith and fidelity and is believed to be having healing properties for arthritis and lung diseases.

The different kinds of stones that belong to the garnet family are pyrope, rhodolite, spessartine, andradite, grossular and uvaroite. Jewellery made tsavorite are much sought after because of its similarity to emarld. Garnets can be used in making bracelets, pendants, finger rings and ear rings. Garnet pendants can be teamed with flat, linked or roped chains. Garnet earrings come in a wide variety of range from classic studs to modern clip-ons and dangling chandeliers. They are suited for white gold jewellery or sterling silver. They also look wonderful with a combination of other gemstones, pearls and mother of pearl. Since garnet gemstones have been used in jewellery for thousands of years, there are excellent antique style jewellery that are available too.

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