What Is Garnet?

Humanfeather / Michelle Jo, CC BY 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Garnet is a semi-precious mineral with a hardness of 6.5 to 7.5 on the Mohs scale. This gem is January’s birthstone.  

What Color is Garnet?  

Garnet is usually thought to be red, but it can also be pink, orange, green, black, and yellow. Blue garnets are the rarest. Some garnets even change colors depending on the type of light they are exposed to. 

There are over 20 species of garnet, but a select few are actually used for gems. The five main species of garnet are:  

• Pyrope – deep red, black, or violet-red in color 

• Almandine/almandite - deep red, red-orange, brown, or purple in color 

• Spessartine/spessartite - orange, red-orange, or orange-yellow in color 

• Andradite – green, yellow, brownish-red, brown, or black in color 

• Grossular – green, red, orange, white, yellow, pink, or brown in color 

How Much is Garnet Worth? 

Garnet vs Ruby 

Images via GIA

You may be wondering what the difference is between these two stones – they can be difficult to distinguish.  

Rubies only come in red, pink-red, or purple-red. Garnets, as you’ve already learned, can come in practically any other color. While both rubies and garnets can be red, rubies often exhibit a more vibrant, saturated red color.  

Rubies are harder, with a hardness of 9 on the Mohs scale, making them much better for rings and everyday wear. Garnet only has a hardness of 6.5-7.5.  

Rubies, which are classified as precious gems, are generally much more expensive than garnets – a 1-carat ruby can cost anywhere from $300 to $10,000. A 1-carat garnet typically costs $100 to $300. Garnets are generally considered the affordable alternative to rubies. Rubies are also much rarer than garnets.  

How Do I Know if a Garnet is Real? 

It can be difficult to tell on your own if a garnet is real. The best way to know for sure is to only buy garnets that come with a certificate from a reputable agency, like the GIA. If you already own a garnet, for example, in a family heirloom, you should try taking it to a jeweler to see if they can help you. 

One of the best ways to determine if your garnet is real is to look for reflections within the stone. Look at the stone closely and aim it towards a light source. Inside of the stone, look for light reflecting off its inside walls. While still looking closely at the stone, tilt it. The same reflection should be visible in a rainbow-like pattern. If you can’t see reflections within the stone, it may be a fake garnet. Of course, this isn’t always a reliable way to determine if your garnet is real, and it can be very difficult to see reflections inside of it, especially if the garnet is very tiny.  

Is Garnet Good for Engagement Rings?  

Garnet is okay for everyday wear in pieces like earrings and necklaces that aren’t subject to accidental blows, but it’s not recommended for engagement rings. This is because garnet can easily become scratched. If you seek a red gemstone engagement ring, we recommend a ruby engagement ring instead. Rubies are nearly as hard as diamonds! 

What Do Garnets Do?  

Garnet is said to attract success and promote creativity, passion, and strength. It’s also said to provide protection to its wearer. In medieval times, it was believed to protect its wearer from poison. 

Do Garnets Fluoresce?  

Garnets do not fluoresce, although it's possible for some garnets (tsavorite and grossular) to exhibit fluorescence.  

Gemstone jewelry is a wonderful way to brighten up each day. Browse our collection of gemstone jewelry today!