All About Garnets

Buying Garnets

Buying garnets is a fairly simple matter. There are just a few guidelines to keep in mind.

Firstly buy from a reputable dealer, either online or in your own city. Find the best possible dealer you can. They have more to lose selling fakes so of course do not. This does not mean buying from a 'chain' jewelers. It means sourcing out a real dealer in garnets and that can also mean doing some research to find out who is the best.

As with diamonds, due to the rarity and beauty of the garnet there are many fakes on the market and it pays to know something about garnets and how to tell the real from the fake.

The garnet should be clear with no or invisible inclusions (bubbles within the stone caused when it was first formed) or flaws.

Examine the stone for the cut. Does the surface reflect light evenly? Check for any scratches or marks on the surface of the stone.

It is a good idea to examine two or more garnets together. That way you can select the stone you like the most.

Lastly keep in mind that if the stone is "cheap" it is most likely not a real garnet.

Some garnets are more valuable and therefore more pricy than diamonds so you can end up paying many thousands of dollars for a really fine garnet. So it pays not to just take on trust the first 'garnet' you are offered by the local jeweler. Try to look at several at the same time. Do a comparison. Also check the setting, is it a claw setting or a paste or glued in? You need to see the back of the gemstone also so it should be a claw setting, especially for a ring. What sort of metal is the garnet set in. 9 karat gold or higher? It should be at least 14 karat gold or pure platinum. Garnets look splendid in any setting and can really set off the metal it is set in.

Check the stone for cracks, scratches and that it is a good symmetrical cut. All good quality garnets should be accompanied by a certificate from an independent gemological laboratory. If it does not have this ask for one and if the dealer will not give you one (simply offers his own perhaps) then go elsewhere.

Unlike diamonds, which can show of their beauty even when small, say below a carat. garnets really need to be at least one carat or more to display their splendor to the best advantage. The bigger you can afford on your budget the better.