Gold ring with garnet (spessartine)

Garnet is not just a mineral, but a whole family of magical gemstones that have fascinated mankind for millennia. The stone got its name, derived from the Latin “granatum” (garnet), due to the similarity of its classic dark red crystals with the juicy seeds of the fruit of the same name. However, the world of garnets is much more diverse!

These minerals amaze with the richness of colors: from fiery red (pyrope, almandine) and rich orange (spessartine) to sunny yellow, deep brown, and even bright green (tsavorite, demantoid) and black (melanite). There are even rare garnets that change color depending on the lighting. Each variety (the most famous are almandine, pyrope, spessartine, grossular, andradite, uvarovite) has a unique chemical composition that determines its unique shade and properties.

Garnet occurs mainly in metamorphic and some igneous rocks, often forming beautiful, well-formed crystals. It is found alongside minerals such as quartz, feldspars and micas. This stone is valued not only for its beauty but also for its practicality. Due to its high hardness (6.5-7.5 on the Mohs scale), garnets are quite resistant to scratches, which makes them an excellent choice for everyday jewelry. Their attractive glassy or resinous luster adds elegance to jewelry. As a collector's mineral, garnet is valued for the richness of colors, crystal shapes and variety of species. Its natural beauty and history make each specimen unique.

In jewelry, garnet is used to create rings, earrings, necklaces and other jewelry, and due to its hardness, it is also used as an abrasive material in industry. Discover the amazing and multifaceted world of garnets!