Garnet is a crystalline mineral. Though usually red, garnets may also be colorless, black, brown, green, purple, orange and yellow. The origin of the name “garnet” – “dark red” – can be traced to the Latin phrase “punica granatum,” meaning “pomegranate,” as the plant’s red seeds are similar in shape, size, and color to garnet crystals.
Garnets have a Mohs scale hardness of 6.5-7.5. Rare garnets found in Madagascar are blue and change color from red to blue under certain lighting.
Garnet crystals belong to one of two groups: Ugrandite, which includes rough minerals unsuitable for gem production; and Pyralspite, which includes almandine – a modern gem highly popular in the jewelry industry, and Pyrope – a gem which varies in color between black, red and clear, also used in jewelry production.
Pure garnets are found in many places worldwide, including Eilat. As garnet is a common stone, its prices are relatively low compared to other gemstones.
