Garnet: The garnet is a symbol of friendship, love and devotion. Legend holds that Noah used the brilliant stone as a boat lamp. Garnets are found in red, pink, purple, orange, yellow and green. MyJewelrySource.com offers red, pink (rhodolite), orange (spessartite) and green (tsavorite) garnets. It is also the birthstone for January and the suggested gift for the second anniversary. Garnets are mined in Tanzania, Sri Lanka, India, Kenya, Madagascar, among others. Garnet rates 6 1/2 to 7 1/2 on the Mohs scale of hardness.
Enhancements: Cutting is the most basic enhancement method necessary to display the beauty of a gemstone. Garnets are not known to have any other method of enhancement. The red, orange, and green colors, among others, of garnet are natural.Buying a Garnet: Red garnet is readily available in carat weights over 1 carat. Spessartite and tsavorite garnet are much more rare and sizes over 1 carat are important. Red, rhodolite and spessartite garnet are expected to be free of inclusions. Tsavorite, since it is so rare, is accepted with inclusions provided that they are not too obtrusive. Spessartite is most desirable in a bright orange color. Hues of brown and red in spessartite lessen the value of the stone. MyJewelrySource.com offers all of these garnet varieties and our gemstones are of very high quality and in desirable sizes.Garnet Care: Do not use an ultrasonic or steam cleaner. Avoid sudden temperature changes, steaming and contact with cosmetics, hairspray, perfume or household chemicals. Your garnet jewelry may be cleaned with a soft-bristled brush or a cloth with plain or soapy water.