The Garnet Gallery - Index Page

We stock a selection of sizes and shapes of 5 different colors/varieties of garnets. In addition we will list smaller groups of 5 or more other colors of garnets in our Garnet Gallery. To the best of our knowledge, this will be the most complete selection of garnets offered on the Internet!

A description of the properties of red garnets follows the garnet index.

Gallery Index

Garnets are listed by type, origin, and typical shade. Because nature always has ranges, the range of shades of any one variety of garnet will include members that resemble those groups on either side of it. The description of each specific will include a description of its specific color.

Description of Red Garnets

Garnets are a family of gemstones that are silicates of two or three metals. Most garnets are various shades of red, but the family of garnets actually ranges in color from red-orange-yellow-green.
A general formula for red garnets is: (Fe,Mg)3Al2Si2O12.
As the mix of the Fe and Mg changes the garnet name (and color) changes from Pyrope (very red usually with a orangish or faint brown tint) to Almandine (purplish-red). The Rhodolite variety is in the middle.
There is a considerable difference in opinion about which of the red garnets are the best, but the Rhodolite pinkish-purple-red variety is generally considered the most valuable. Because of the range in composition, the hardness of red garnets ranges from 7-7.5 and the density from 3.6 to 4.2 (values for diamond are 10 and 3.52, respectively).

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Last Updated Nov-13-2002