All About Garnet - More than January's Birthstone

All About Garnet - More than January's Birthstone

Garnet is the birthstone for January, and it truly deserves this honor. This remarkable group of gemstones is vast and diverse, offering exceptional qualities and affordable prices in a stunning range of sizes, colors, and shapes. Some varieties of Garnet are even among the rarest gemstones on earth.

Discover the full story of Garnet’s history, species, and gemological details on our Garnet Gemstone Information page.

While many people think of Garnet as a red stone, there are actually garnet varieties in nearly every color imaginable.

In fact, the Garnet group includes over twelve distinct gem types. Red garnet may be the most recognized and popular, but it is far from the only option. Garnet is mined on nearly every continent, though some deposits are now nearly exhausted. As supply dwindles, these rare stones are expected to rise significantly in price.

Want to make a smart purchase? Check out our detailed Garnet Buying Guide.

Garnet Colors and Varieties

Garnet is available in an impressive range of colors, including yellow, orange, peach, green, red, purple, brown, pink, and even color-change types. The most common variety for jewelry is Pyrope Garnet, while some of the rarest include Color Change Garnet, Demantoid Garnet, and Tsavorite Garnet. Other obscure varieties are even more limited.

One color missing from the image below is blue, but blue garnet does exist - it is simply so rare that it is almost never seen. With this, Garnet truly covers the full spectrum of color.

See why some garnet types are among the rarest gems on earth on our Rare Garnets page.

Garnet Luster and Hardness

Garnet’s luster is vitreous (glassy) and highly attractive. Some types, such as Demantoid Garnet, can even display a dazzling, diamond-like brilliance. Garnets are generally eye-clean, meaning free of visible inclusions, although a few types show minimal inclusions. For example, Spessartite and Hessonite often display some inclusions, and Russian Demantoid Garnets may feature distinctive horsetail-like inclusions, while Namibian Demantoids typically have fewer impurities.

Garnet rates 6.5 to 7.5 on the Mohs scale, making it quite durable and suitable for all types of jewelry thanks to its combination of hardness, color range, shapes, and excellent value.

Interesting Garnet Facts

• Garnet is the birthstone for January and the traditional gift for a second wedding anniversary.
• According to legend, Noah used a Garnet lantern to help guide his ark at night, and Garnets were believed to protect travelers.
• A Garnet cabochon brooch from Jackie Onassis’s estate sold for over $100,000 at auction.
• Garnet is said to encourage successful business, compassion, and self-confidence.

Learn about the traditional symbolism of garnet in our Garnet Meaning and Powers article.

Demantoid Garnet

Demantoid Garnet is a brilliant green variety considered one of the rarest and most valuable types of Garnet. Its extremely high refractive index gives it more brilliance than Ruby or Sapphire, and even greater dispersion (fire) than Diamond. Most Demantoids are small, with stones over one carat considered rare and two-carat stones extremely scarce.

Initially discovered in Russia, Demantoid became famous for its rarity and beauty. Newer deposits were later found in Namibia and Madagascar, with small sources in other countries, yet this has not diminished its value or demand. GemSelect offers stunning Demantoid Garnet pieces with a sparkle you will love.

We stock Demantoid Garnet in single stones, pairs, and lots. Colors range from lime green to deep forest green with occasional yellow tones, and lighter stones often exhibit incredible luster.

Tsavorite Garnet

Tsavorite is an emerald-green variety of grossular garnet, with a color so vivid it rivals the finest emeralds. It is highly valued for its beauty, durability, and investment potential. When buying Tsavorite, eye-clean stones with rich, saturated color are the most desirable.

Tsavorite ranges from bright yellowish green to deep forest green, with the most prized shades being vivid and pure. With a Mohs rating of 6.5–7.5, Tsavorite is tough enough for daily wear and is easy to work into jewelry designs, including pavé and accent settings.

If you are searching for a green gemstone with impressive brilliance, durability, and reasonable cost, Tsavorite is a superb choice.

Malaya Garnet

Malaya Garnet is a hybrid of Pyrope and Spessartite garnets, discovered relatively recently in Tanzania’s Umba River Valley. It remains primarily sourced there today.

Malaya Garnet is durable, rating 7–7.5 on the Mohs scale. It is available in beautiful colors ranging from pinkish-orange to reddish-orange and yellowish-orange, with variations in tone and saturation. Rarer or redder stones, as well as larger sizes, command higher prices.

GemSelect offers Malaya Garnet in single stones, pairs, and lots, with vivid grapefruit colors being especially rare and still quite affordable.

Color Change Garnet

Color Change Garnet is an exceptionally rare hybrid type, usually made up of Spessartite and Pyrope, sometimes with Grossular or Almandine. It is highly sought after for its dramatic color change, which can shift from brownish-green or bronze in daylight to a vivid pink or rose under incandescent light.

Color Change Garnet can also show hues from gray and green to violet and even blue, with blood-red tones under candlelight. The stone truly shines when viewed under a range of lighting conditions. With a Mohs hardness of 7–7.5, it is suitable for most jewelry applications.

Hessonite Garnet

Hessonite is a variety of grossular garnet known for its warm honey-yellow to cinnamon-brown colors. Unlike other grossular garnets, Hessonite is never green. It has a distinctive appearance with varying levels of transparency and its characteristic honey-like inclusions, which are typical and acceptable for this gem.

GemSelect offers a range of Hessonite Garnet in affordable pairs, lots, and rare larger stones. Sri Lanka is the most famous source, and once faceted and polished, Hessonite shows an impressive vitreous luster.

Pyrope Garnet

Pyrope is the most popular red garnet, with a deep red color sometimes mistaken for Ruby. Its name comes from Greek, meaning “fire-eye,” due to its exceptional brilliance. Pyrope has a high refractive index, is often free of inclusions, and is very affordable.

Pyrope is durable, rating 7–7.5 on the Mohs scale, and can be cut into many shapes and sizes. Smaller Pyropes tend to show a deep red, while larger stones may appear nearly black. Historically, Pyrope was mined in the Czech Republic, but today sources include China, Madagascar, Myanmar, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Tanzania, and the USA.

Rhodolite Garnet

Rhodolite Garnet, a mix of Pyrope and Almandine, is known for its purplish-red or raspberry-red color. Its name comes from the Greek word for “rose-colored.” Its vivid pink-purple tones set it apart from other garnets, with raspberry-red shades being the most desirable.

Rhodolite Garnet is generally inclusion-free, with a vitreous luster and high brilliance due to its refractive index. It is durable, widely available in many cuts, and reasonably priced, making it a great choice for jewelry.

Spessartite Garnet

Spessartite Garnet ranges from orange to reddish-brown and was first discovered in Germany in the 1880s. Its popularity in jewelry grew after significant finds in Namibia and Mozambique in the 1990s. It shares ties with Color Change and Malaya Garnet through its composition.

Spessartite’s vivid orange tones are recognizable even in redder stones. Its Mohs hardness of 7.5 and excellent brilliance make it highly desirable in faceted cuts. Large Spessartite stones are rare and valuable, while smaller stones still offer stunning color and luster.

Mali Garnet

Mali Garnet is a relatively new discovery from Mali, West Africa, and is a rare mixture of Grossular and Andradite. Its unique blend makes it among the most valuable types of garnet.

Mali Garnet is found in alluvial deposits in Mali and comes in colors ranging from yellow, white, colorless, and green to red, with yellowish or brownish-green shades being the most common. Mint-green and yellow-green Mali Garnets are especially desirable for their brilliance.

Star Garnet

Star Garnet is an uncommon variety known for its asterism, or star-like pattern caused by rutile inclusions. These stones are typically deep reddish-black or brownish-red. Star Garnets come mainly from India and the USA.

Most display a four-rayed star under strong light, but rare specimens can show a six-rayed star, which is especially prized.

Grossularite Garnet

Grossularite is a yellow-green variety of garnet, with the calcium-aluminum structure giving it distinct chemistry within the garnet group. It can range from lemon yellow to greenish yellow, with mint and yellow-green shades being particularly attractive.

Grossularite is often highly transparent, with some inclusions considered acceptable. GemSelect offers VVS or VVS-VS clarity Grossularite at competitive prices, sourced from regions including Canada, the USA, Africa, Russia, Madagascar, Tanzania, Kenya, Pakistan, Brazil, and Sri Lanka.

Almandine Garnet

Almandine Garnet is one of the most common garnet types worldwide, though most of it is industrial-grade rather than gem-quality. Gem-grade Almandine shows deep reds ranging from brownish-red to orangey-red or purplish-red, and rates 7.5 on the Mohs scale, making it durable for jewelry.

Prices per carat are similar to Pyrope Garnet, with the biggest difference being that Almandine is generally available in larger sizes.

• Learn more about Almandine Garnet
• Learn more about Pyrope Garnet
• Explore Rhodolite Garnet
• Discover Spessartite Garnet
• Meet Color Change Garnet
• Understand Demantoid Garnet
• See Tsavorite Garnet
• Find out about Hessonite Garnet
• Read about Grossularite Garnet
• See Mali Garnet
• Star Garnet Overview
• Uvarovite Garnet Details