Garnet is usually thought of as a red crystal. Bohemian garnets were used often in Victorian Jewelry. They were found in rich deposits in what is now known as the Czech Republic. The color of the pyrope Bohemian garnet is a purplish red and was first found in the 16th Century. There is still some garnet that is mined in the Bohemian Hills even today, and still faceted to be used in jewelry.
In the late 1800’s this style of garnet jewelry was very popular and has a distinctive signature. Generally set with the faceted culet point side up, the rich red passionate garnet gems sparkled like magic in candlelight.
There are 6 main varieties of garnets, Pyrope, almandine, spessertine, grossular, andradite and uvarovite. Each one has a unique color and set of gemstone properties. Did you know that garnet came in a sumptuous orange, which is spessartine, or purple which is rhodolite. There are color change garnets that range from a bluish green to a reddish purple. Grossular is a yellowish green, uvarovite is an emerald green but rarely found in sizes that can be cut into gemstones. My favorite of course is Tsavorite garnet, a brilliant bluish green garnet that is mined in the Tsavo valley. Andradite garnet is called demantoid, which is also a bright green gemstone, and very rare and expensive. Hessonite garnet, a reddish orange color is identified with an inclusion called ‘Whisky in Water’ which looks like bubbles in a shot of whisky.
Garnet gemstones are making a strong comeback in the market, as many of them are now very rare and expensive. Measuring approximately 7-8 on the Mohs scale, they are known for their durability, unique brilliant colors, rarity, and historic nostalgia.