Rich, gorgeous, elegant, opulent…have I thought of enough words to describe garnet earrings? Probably not, but that is a good start. If you are looking for a pair of earrings that will look absolutely fabulous with all of your fall and winter clothes, then look no further. Here are some interesting things about garnets you might want to know before you shop for your garnet earrings!
Garnets are the January birthstone, and they got their name from the Latin “granatus”, which means grain because the internal crystals that make up a garnet look somewhat like grain kernels. There are several popular forms of garnet used in jewelry today, including Hessonite which is a cinnamon brown color, Tsavorite, which is dark green, and also Rhodolite, which is a purple-y red color. The many different varieties of garnets vary in hardness, from about 6.5 to 7.5 on the Mohs scale, which makes them ideal for use in gold garnet earrings, silver garnet earrings, or just about any type of jewelry design. As with all gemstones, care should be taken not to be too rough with them, as a hard hit might cause a garnet to crack. They can be cleaned easily, with commercial jewelry cleaner, or with mild soap and water.
Garnet is the only gemstone that is found in every color. In fact, there are no other gemstones that are naturally found that many different colors. There are even several types of garnet that change color depending on what kind of light they are seen in. The rarest color garnet is a blue garnet, recently discovered in Madagascar. The most popular color of garnet currently used in modern jewelry designs is the familiar dark red color. Gem quality garnet is Almandine, a deep red, transparent stone. Almandine is also sometimes referred to as oriental garnet, carbuncle, and almandine ruby.
Antique garnet earrings and vintage-looking garnet earrings have recently become very popular. They are absolutely beautiful and usually very ornate. Antique garnet earrings that are made with Bohemian garnets can go from hundreds to thousands of dollars in price simply because they were only found in in the mountains of Bohemia, and the mines have now been exhausted. They are some of the most exquisite, intensely red garnets ever found, and are highly sought after.
Simulated garnet earrings can be a wonderful solution for the budget conscious. They are quite beautiful and are made into modern, sleek designs as well as vintage-style designs. They can be made of glass or crystal. Always check to make sure you are getting actual garnet if you are going to pay for earrings labeled “garnet” because some of the simulated garnets are so good they may fool you into thinking they are real. This type of earring would be wonderful to pair with vintage rhinestone jewelry. I have a beautiful silver locket that that looks gorgeous with a pair of silver garnet and marcasite earrings, also. Your options are just about endless with garnet earrings.
Take some time to research garnets before you shop, and make sure you ask to see a gemological certificate for an expensive piece of gemstone jewelry you want to purchase. Garnet earrings are gorgeous, elegant, and so versatile, you will want several pairs, I’m sure!
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