Garnet
Most people think of Garnet as a single
type of stone that is dark red, but actually Garnet is a family
of gems that spans a range of colors. Some of these are:
Almandite Garnet: Reddish orange to
red.
Andradite Garnet: Yellow, green, brown,
or black.
Grossularite Garnet: Green, yellow.
Green Grossularite, also known as Tsavorite, comes from Kenya's
Tsavo region.
Malaya Garnet: Slightly pinkish orange
or reddish orange.
Hydrogrossular Garnet: Translucent green, closely resembles
Nephrite Jade.
Pyrope Garnet: Medium to dark red.
Rhodolite Garnet: Light to dark pink
to purplish red.
Spessartite Garnet: Yellowish orange
to reddish orange.
These stones all share the name Garnet
which comes from the Latin 'Granatus' which means "seedlike."
Many Garnet crystals have the shape and color of pomegranate seeds.
In ancient times it was known as Carbuncle which relates to the
color and refers to a boil or blister. (The name Carbuncle was
also applied to other red gems, but especially to red Garnet.)
Garnet has been believed to cure heart
palpitations, lung diseases, and diseases of the blood. It was
thought to represent faith, consistency, and truth. Garnets were
claimed to help the wearer resist melancholy and warn off evil
spirits, especially spirits of the night. The gemstone was endowed
with the power to protect against poison, and was believed to
inspire contemplation and induce a joyous state. It was also a
stone of loyalty and truthfulness, and offered its wearer the
power to protect their standing and possessions.
Today, Garnet is found in many locations
and is principally supplied from Africa, North America, and India.
Hardness: 7-7.5
Toughness: Fair to good
Birthstone: January
Gemstones: Beauty, Lore and Fascination is available through
Intarsia Press, a division of Foxfire Jewelers, 14176 NE Woodinville-Duvall
Rd., Woodinville, WA 98072 (425) 485-0625.
Jewelry shown is not avaliable for sale online. Some
pieces may be available in our store, but generally, photos are
only to demonstrate the type of jewelry we make. Please contact
us at Foxfire Jewelers by emailing 
or by calling (425)-485-0625.
Our address is:
Foxfire Jewelers
14176 NE Woodinville-Duvall Road
Woodinville, WA 98072
Hydrogrossular Garnet: Translucent green, closely resembles
Nephrite Jade.