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Garnet

Garnet: More than Meets the Eye

Garnet is a classic stone known for its dark red color, but the term "garnet" actually refers to a group of minerals all with similar chemical properties. The stone we think of as garnet is known to gem experts as pyrope. The name pyrope probably comes from the Greek word pyrōpós, meaning "fire-eyed." Pyrope is the type of garnet that has the characteristic blood-red color, glinting with subdued fire. The other garnet stones can occur in any color except for blue, but here on Amber Laine, we do like most gemstone sellers and call the iconic crimson pyrope stone by its more well-known name of garnet. Regardless of what it's called, garnet has a subtle and modest beauty that is perfectly suited for an ornate sterling silver setting or as a hint of color in religious jewelry.

Garnet by Any Other Name

The name garnet may come from the Middle English word "gernet," which means "dark red." That seems pretty self explanatory! Or, it could come from the Latin word "granatus," which means "grain." This could be because garnet has been used as an abrasive (it still is to this day!) or it could be a reference to the pomegranate, a fruit with seeds similar in color, shape, and size to garnet crystals. Either way, garnet has been around for a very long time, and though it is abundant and inexpensive today, it still possesses a dark mystique that has captured the hearts of gemstone jewelry lovers all over the world for generations.

The Legend of Garnet

Many legends and stories about garnet use the word exactly the same way you probably do: garnet typically refers to the classic dark red gemstone. The garnet is said to bring light to the wearer. Legend has it that Noah used a garnet stone to bring light to the ark in the dark of night. The Greeks called it the lamp stone. Garnets have been loved by people for ages, and has been found in Egyptian, Greek, and Roman jewelry. Garnets are also believed to enhance concentration and improve imagination. Garnet is the birthstone for January, associated with the zodiac sign Capricorn. It is also suggested as a gift for the second and sixth wedding anniversaries. Connecticut and New York both claim the mineral as the state gemstone.

Cleaning and Caring for your Garnet

Because garnet can be anywhere between a 6.5 and 7.5 on the Mohs hardness scale (for reference, glass is a 6), it is best to treat it as if it were a soft stone. It is always a good idea to store your jewelry so that the pieces cannot scratch or be scratched, either by keeping them apart or by placing the jewelry in individual cloth or plastic bags. With regular cleanings, your garnet jewelry will continue to sparkle for years to come. Just use a few drops of dish soap in warm water and soak your jewelry for about five minutes, then use a soft cosmetics applicator. Rinse and dry thoroughly and quickly with a soft, lint-free cloth. Never use a steam cleaner, although an ultrasonic cleaner may be used on most garnet jewelry. Garnet has no particular sensitivity to sunlight or heat, but be sure to keep it away from harsh chemicals such as pool water and household cleaners. Garnet, like many other gemstones, is a brittle stone, so be sure to protect it from hard impacts and remove it before rough work.