Garnet Auctions
You can buy garnets at gemological auctions and it is easy to locate auctions using google.com and by typing in garnet auctions. Probably eBay and www.bidz,com would be the most popular. Also look out for local auctions in your town or city. Scouring the newspapers can sometimes net you an auction at which garnets are up for sale.
Jewelery and gem auctions are usually the best.
Some important points to remember when buying garnets at auctions.
If you are buying from an auction where you can attend, you will likely need to register if you intend bidding. See if you can inspect the garnets that will be auctioned. There should be a certificate to accompany the garnet or garnets or at least some information about them. Quite often these are antique garnets and if so will be a good buy if the price is right. You only need to establish that they are true garnets and not some other lesser quality stone or not even a gem at all.
Firstly you should have some understanding of the value and worth of garnets and also what your bid is going to be. This will depend on your budget and how much you want the garnets of course.
When bidding it is better not to bid at all until the very last minute when all the bidding appears to be done. Provided the price is still within your budget you can then jump in with a bid and not start a bidding war (which only benefits the seller and the auction house).
Online auctions are different. You cannot see the garnets but only a picture of them. It is difficult to asses the quality of a garnet in this case and you would be more interest in seeing a certificate of authenticity which you could compare the garnet with if you did bid and win the bid.
Ensure the auction house has provision for misrepresentation of product and a protection system for the buyer. You don’t want to bid and win an expensive garnet to find when it arrives that you have just got at best a poor quality garnet and at worse a worthless piece of glass.
Buying garnets at garnet auctions can be fun but there is no substitute for doing your due diligence.